I remember a similar thing happening when Apple introduced the iMac with no 3.5" floppy drive. People thought that was crazy. Also, to a lesser extent, when they introduced the Air with no CD-ROM. When was the last time you used your CD-ROM? Moral of the story: technology changes.
The point is, Apple is usually 1-2 years ahead on thinking the market. Their edge is in being the first movers on everything they release, so they get virtually no competition and exclusive agreements with suppliers/partners.
