In MS's defense these new methods for multi-touch were not known (or even invented) when the Surface was in the initial design stages - the multitouch field is evolving radically month-to-month, it's impossible for a commercial product to keep up.
The most interesting sensing method IMHO right now is the combined emitter-receiver package, where light reflected from touches induce back voltages on the LEDs serving as backlights themselves. This is pretty elegant, and would allow us to use far superior display technology like plasmas and LCDs, not to mention allow the whole thing to finally approach flat screen TV thickness.
It's pretty expensive though - imagine an array of pure-white LEDs big enough to cover your 65" plasma TV... and the electronics to process all of this data.
The most interesting sensing method IMHO right now is the combined emitter-receiver package, where light reflected from touches induce back voltages on the LEDs serving as backlights themselves. This is pretty elegant, and would allow us to use far superior display technology like plasmas and LCDs, not to mention allow the whole thing to finally approach flat screen TV thickness.
It's pretty expensive though - imagine an array of pure-white LEDs big enough to cover your 65" plasma TV... and the electronics to process all of this data.