That seems like a fair assessment, and a fair list of concerns. Sucks ass about the lousy GPS, though, as that's most definitely not an Android problem, but solely hardware.

Also, I know that as of Android 2.2, the default mail app has a unified inbox. I don't recall if that was there before then. I'm guessing not.

Seems like it would have been more cost-effective for Samsung to get 2.2 running on the phone rather than wasting their time making pointless additions to 2.1, doesn't it?

It has been said (and I don't recall if this was a rumor or from Google directly) that the bundled base applications are to be moved out of the base OS and into the market. That way, even if the phone vendor decides to replace it with something else, the user can get the base app if they want it. Hopefully, if true, that includes the Launcher application, so that people can get rid of the vendor's "skin" if desired.