But all of those were things that were left out of the Apple ][ project for various reasons: either they didn't exist yet (Disk ][ being the prime example), or were too expensive to add to the motherboard.
What exactly is lacking from modern hardware today? Not enough communications capability? Screen isn't large or hi-res enough?
The expandability has moved to software. That's the App Store. People are customizing their machines and adding capability, but they're doing it through the SDK and not the schematics.
Any restrictions on modern hardware are likely to be strategic. For instance, the reason you can't make voice calls with the ipad and that it doesn't have a camera is most likely because that would mean you no longer need an iphone.
The parts would have added another $5 to the total cost, if that. It also gives them a reason to sell you a new one a year or two down the line. Along with less anemic ram, needed for this amazing new feature called multi-tasking.
What exactly is lacking from modern hardware today? Not enough communications capability? Screen isn't large or hi-res enough?
The expandability has moved to software. That's the App Store. People are customizing their machines and adding capability, but they're doing it through the SDK and not the schematics.