Those are good points John, especially the last paragraph.
If the idiosyncratic companies cease to exist, there are less and less chances of cameras like the highly innovative Contax 645, and more recent Hy6 being developed.
My observation on this is that it'll end up being survival of the fittest. Not necessarily the best solution but one that fits the broadest spectrum of the miniscule market that MF represents. What appears to be driving this are the MF camera companies that face swift extinction if they cannot forge a digital relationship with a back maker.
The unknown wild card here is just what the 35mm companies may do in future ... who would've thought Leica would move into this segment? What if Canon and/or Sony go there? Both those companies have resources and already make their own sensors. We all know that without a significant breakthrough in sensor design, 35mm DSLRs are close to maxed out.
These companies already have a built in potential sales base by providing an upgrade path to customers they already have a dialog with. Despite apparent brand jumping, there is actually a lot of brand loyalty intact. Sony and Zeiss are already tight. A medium format camera with a good 645 sensor and all new Zeiss modern AF Zeiss lenses ... basically where the Contax 645 could have gone ... hmmmm? What then?
