Agreed. I'm hoping as some of this newer tech is commoditized that economy of scale allows an updated smaller entry to return. I wouldn't mind paying X prices for such a beast, but I'm aware the market wouldn't support $500+.
Yeah, I'm actually not that picky about the tech inside. Give me last gen internals - A11 processor, prev. gen camera, no True tone/glued up display whatever to reduce cost. But, give me a phone that is the size of iPhone SE but with a bigger display, and decent enough camera - I'd line up in the store for that.