Ouch!! --- Thats gotta hurt :(

Yes and no. It was the Konica aspect that was similar (primarily a film maker just like Fuji)

The Minolta part took a back seat during the merger and a fair few folks predicted that they would pull out of cameras (and they did) a few years later.

I still shoot and use my Minolta equipment..and IMO they had some super ideas that were ahead of the pack at times (in body AS for one), wireless flash another.

I think all the makers are struggling a bit, esp Sony, Fuji, Panasonic, Samsung