Excellent thread. I think you all are nailing it, the last couple of OSX versions lacks direction and downright sensibility to what are necessary and useful features, and the kind of "features" that diminish the OS X experience.
The current trend is to make nonsensical changes in the OSX just for the sake of change.
I'm always about trying out the newest, and getting the newest OS etc., but for the first time I'm sticking with the older OS, Snow Leopard. I have no plans to upgrade any of my older macs, but when I get a new one I guess I'm forced to upgrade.
I really hope that Apple wises up, and figures this out. Disappointing to see Apple changing a successful formula, and going away from the brilliance that was Snow Leopard. Autosave, resume, versions, reminders, notification center, launchpad, Facebook integration etc..etc., give me a break! What about an improved Finder, better graphics support, optimizing the increasingly RAM- and CPU-hungry code in Lion and Mountain Lion. And of course, FIX THE BUGS.