Well, I don't see live preview as live view, yes if you are working in a studio, perhaps, even though it's still not great with such a low frame rate.... But hiking or on location is a hassle. A laptop is no replacement for live view. I mean how great would it be, to work with a Pxx on a LF camera and have access to live view like in every modern Canon an Nikon. It really would speed things up and be even more fun to work with.
"Options? How about being able to use the $25 to 30K investment on a tech camera" Main reason why the S2 is nothing for me ^^
That's the semi-sarcastic point I was trying to make ... MFD is primarily a studio/commercial-location solution, and in my experience used that way far more than it is as a landscape camera or replacement for a high-end 35mm DSLR. Forums like this and other popular ones may make it seem the opposite, and skew opinions as to what the manufacturers should be concentrating on. IMO, Pro photographers like Guy who try to use a MFD for all types of shooting are pretty rare.
Live Preview as you call it, isn't what I'm talking about ... it's Live View. It just isn't on the LCD, it's on the computer screen. For many, if not most, commercial applications this is far more useful and valuable ... because with most MFD software you can insert the Art Directors layout and compose to fit ... live, and in real time. To me, that's Live View.
MFD manufactures have made their systems more versatile with the increase in ISO, and improving the AF abilities for more spontaneous applications. So your request for a Live View feature like Canon/Nikon probably isn't out of the question. The only time I use LV on the Nikon D3X is in controlled shooting when using manual focus lenses at 10X mag to check focus accuracy.
However, I wonder if all MFD user opinions were represented, what features and improvements would be more prevalent to guide the MFD company's priorities? These companies aren't giants churning out millions of P&S cameras to supplement their high-end products, so they have to pick and choose carefully.
In "improvement polls" I've seen on forum sites more skewed to working Pros, I don't recall on-camera Live View being a priority. But to your point, it wasn't increased meg count either. If I recall correctly, it was boring stuff like platform stability, transfer speed, and software improvements which both Hasselbald and Phase have been addressing ... as well as obvious practical stuff like multi-point AF ... which Hasselblad has recently addressed by avoiding multipoint altogether and inventing a whole new off center AF solution ... giving someone like me the first real reason to consider upgrading my H3D ... because meg count wasn't reason enough.
This doesn't negate what you want, it's just a question of priorities and ability to respond to all the demands.
To me, the S2 is a "tweaner" ... neither fish nor fowl. Not as fast, not as high ISO, not as good with multipoint AF ability as a high end DSLR ... and not as versatile as a modular systems MFD. That said, I'm sure it will find its following with those that need none of the special attributes of a 35mm DSLR or Modular MFD system.
If any camera should have included on-camera Live View, it is the S2. Hell, maybe it has it and I just missed that feature.
-Marc