I'm torn over that one. These leaks raise some doubts in my mind, but at the same time they ring the bell on so many levels.
On one side...
1. Lady StarGazer had a point : money. I think these leaks are in great part a snowball effect caused by a first leak, or series of leaks - may those have been legit or not. Having the "latest" news and rumors and leaks on a website's front page pretty much guarantees a lot of visitors. Those who were first to display and discuss them got huge, huge attention and frequentation. Millions of people started chewing on it like mad, researching further and further infos and confirmations. Now, as a source (any media) you have two options : going along with the leaks, or defuse them / propose alternates. Or both in many cases, but with a major focus on one; the other is just something to fill up the voids and raise discussions - and hopefully get more frequentation. The thing is, this leak rings a true note, it distinguishes itself from the other alternatives proposed, it resists many counter-arguments, it relies on pictures and videos, not digital renderings and pure speculations. Millions of people are already swallowed whole in the new frenzy, and they are hungry for the next leaks, the freshest source of information. Would you defuse it, you may lose attention and credibility, but adding on it is a pretty safe line. This is an opportunity to make money, to get visibility, and some people are stepping on it : based on the first leak (or series of leaks), they start "leaking" other parts and news that just fit with it, and the more it goes on, the less space is left for any other alternative, the more "reliable" and unified the leaks get. And this is huge, we're not talking weeks but days, even hours, to build up. Now, even if the first leak WAS true, it doesn't mean nothing anymore. It's already a good couple of months old, Apple has had time to change its strategy, to review its design, and as they are aware of the leak, perhaps to see to it that it doesn't happen anymore. Or to use it as a shield. Not saying they went radically different, perhaps just that they finally focused on another prototype.
2. We have to admit it, the leaks fit Apple's usual predicament. But... they are all "black". Can you imagine that prototype in white? The black isn't even black : the metal is a dull, carbon grey. I can't imagine it spray-painted white and looking good. The white 3GS - 4 - 4S were gorgeous because plastic, and then glass, gave it a glossy, classy look. That could not be with this new prototype. Another alternative is... to only have the back and front bezels white. And that would really, really be ugly. So it leaves us with the possibility of replacing the white version by a silver and white, so you get a dark, carbon grey and black version, and a light, silver and white version as a choice. Possible... but at the same time, I can't believe it. In fact, it seems to me that the metal casing would really only be beautiful in colors : electric orange, red or blue could look nice with that raw, unpolished finish. That leaked carbon prototype is not ugly, but it definitely lacks the usual unity and smoothness of Apple products. And I don't expect colors...
On another side...
3. It stays a "classical" form for iPhone, really fitting with Apple's philosophy.
4. Can you tell me WHAT exactly is SO much more advanced and original in other manufacturer's designs? Colors, up to a point... Plastic backplate and roundness are not really unique as snowflakes, are they? The actual GSIII is pretty much a thinner, bigger version of an iPhone 3GS, only with more screen and less bezel. And it's offered blue and white - oh I wonder where they got that idea, SOOOO original! The Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Note just look about the same as the GSIII. The SII was more square, does it really stand out as original? The GSIII backplate is the most common, unremarkable thing in this world. HTC, Motorola, they all look the same to me. I don't know about you, but when I look at a carrier's counter from a distance, only the iPhones do really stand out...
5. In spite of my doubts concerning precisely the actual design given by all the leaks, I do not think the next iPhone will be radically different from it. Which doesn't make me less excited about it.