Fair enough, Cam. I think using a fast aperture lens just because you like it is all the reason anyone needs to do just that. I do think the balance is shifting, though - even in low lit night street shots or stage performance, where f1.4 is useful but no longer quite so essential as once it was. I agree there will be times where nothing but speed will do, it's just that those times are fewer and further between nowadays.
I still think you are missing the point of a faster aperture lens... for some of us.
It isn't
just to record more light ... or just because we "mindlessly" like it.
A 35/1.4 shot at a distance can provide "subject isolation" while retaining acuity for the whole subject being isolated (look at the DOF scale on a lens that actually has one ... wide-angles really increase DOF dramatically as distance increases).
That ability to selectively isolate a subject from a busy scenario is harder to do with a f/4 max aperture wide-angle. Conversely, I can stop down any f/1.4 lens to f/4 but cannot open up a f/4 lens to f/1.4. f/1.8, f/2, or f/3.5 to control the point of interest I want in the photo.
Also, given the motion of the subject as a shutter-speed factor, I prefer to use the lowest ISO possible for the lighting conditions ... or conversely, use a higher ISO to stop action rather than gather more light.
All that said, I wouldn't specifically argue against slower lenses that are smaller to match the size of these Sony cameras. I specifically like the FE35/2.8 for the same reason I used to like the Leica 50/2/8 collapsible ... it is small and reasonable in performance. Meanwhile I also used a 50/1.4 or Noctilux when appropriate.
- Marc