I think it is a bold, daring statement to declare the iPhone "5 years ahead of its time" before it is released. And even to judge that, it becomes SO opinionated that in the end nothing gets settled. For instance:
What, in "functionality", does the iPhone do that a Windows Mobile PPC cannot? Visual voicemail? ANYTHING else????? UI/multitouch are features, not functionality.
I can watch movies on my Treo. I can browse the web, listen to music, email calendar, etc. HOWEVER, I have my bank accounts synced through Quicken on my phone, and I can watch my TV on my phone- any channel, any time, with Slingbox. I can download and read a book, play 100's of games, etc etc.
The iPhone is going to sell, and going to sell big when it is released. But what are consumers going to do when they realize they can do all of this on a phone that costs hundreds less, on a cellular network that is cheaper to boot?