Im not surprised with just 1 device, they may want to not have to adopt too much different screen devices, etc keep it simple. Keep Maemo devices at the top, sort of exclusive, to compete with the other smartphones, easier to support and allow the platform to grow.

I'm not saying I would want (or not want) any of the features I proposed for the N910. I'm just guessing that Nokia will change things from the N900 to better assess the market and default portrait mode is likely. If enough people like yourself complain about portrait mode (versus the number of people who have complained about landscape mode), then the final step, the N1000 (?) with Maemo 6, will likely have landscape as the default (and vice versa).

most devices todat don't have default orientations. The N900 has the most popular form factor, but most other side sliding devices do both orientations.