Hi David,
I agree with 90% of what you say.
I do feel that Sony is just testing the water with these 2 items, and will then come up with something more at the level (maybe a 3rd item) of what you sescribe.
That would be very cool
Lastly I feel these items were not aimed at a RAW shooter, just people that can take fun and decent shots and upload them to therir facebook etc on the spot.
yeah i hear you, I am SURE they were aimed at the fun market. However, typically Sony, they focused on the engineering and not the UI.
I do think the basic camphones do the job well enough for the "fun" aspect. Heck, even Im taking the odd snap now with my Note 3 to save the bother of using the camera (something i never used to do , but I have "always on" cell internet now); & that's despite having the RX100ii where the wifi works pretty well. The problem is the interface - ie the Playmemories app is really clunky, you can either be in photography mode or transfer mode; its just not a nice experience. The former is basic, and features are very lacking (worse than a phonecam) and the latter is inadequate with lack of options and ways of selecting photos for transfer, resolutions, where they find themselves on the phone, etc.
My point is, if the same playmemories interface is something (the only interface available) you have to struggle with whilst using cameras in the QX range (which I think it is) , then no wonder it did not sell. The best thing about PM is that it works, thats about it. Compare this to the slick camphone interfaces with Android and such, with instant options to share each image with any combination of online repositories or communication platforms and you have a winner for the masses.
IF Sony can redevelop the platform and UI significantly; eg, have AUTOMATIC transfer of images to your desired online comms or storages and radically redesign and enhance most areas of the interface THEN they'd have winners on their hands.
Couple this with high grade optics and sensors, RAW option and I'd be tempted myself.
