If you could buy a $349 iPad mini that is missing something that the regular iPad has (retina display, multicore processor, front facing camera or whatever) or paying $349 for a brand new fully functional iPad 2? Which do you get? I'd get the iPad 2, personally. Unless you are dead set on a 7" form factor, why would you get the mini? IMO, for the mini to be successful, it will have to have something that the iPad and iPhone or iPod touch don't or be incredibly reasonably priced.
Your point is well taken, but are you speaking as a techy or as Joe Consumer? Far too many people buy certain brands for status purposes. Take the car that looks like an over-sized baby carriage, for example. A lot of people think the size of the current iPad is too large. I don't and many of the people who peruse this forum don't either, but I doubt we represent the majority. There is a market for it. Now to answer your question: If the specs were the same or even the same as the new iPad, I would get the iPad 2 because of its size.
