I agree completely, sebboh. Camera at waist level, zone focused, quick thumb flip on the lcd, and I'm ready. I walk around with the NEX-5 (with a wrist strap) and CV 35/1.4 prime everywhere I go now, and it is super stealthy.
I understand that different users call for different requirements, Vivek. I'm simply stating that, for me, the NEX-5 is a tiny, inconspicuous, street shooting device, and the flip up LCD makes a lot of sense for many of us. It's not as if shooting in portrait orientation is impossible with NEX, but, rather, just limited to the angles many are used to with OVFs. If I was shooting a portrait session or tripod landscapes and macros, I'd certainly prefer the side swing lcd, but I'd probably be shooting the A900 in such situations, anyways.
p.s. Vivek, I've been checking out your India pics. Nice. :thumbs: