I'm not fancy about swipe or "multi-touch" or those kind of things. But it's NICE to have.

Eventually, people will follow; For me, I'm more concern with the OS capability and flexibility as a smartphone, as in, how close it is to a real portable computer, let's just say a netbook in the size on your handphone. The real MeeGo OS was suppose to be/achieve something like this I think (altough there is MeeGo handset version specifically).

For the hype, I think it's the design, the UI, the simplicity (yet powerful like Android?). If true, then it should make an impact, just the matter of how they market it, and finally... people are concern with apps and games, especially commercial ones; For non-commercial ones, I think we have less to worry IF the community is as strong as Maemo?
The problem with iOS is that it's very limtied, too many restrictions; I know a few have jump to Android after struggling with it's limation and restrictions, they want much more (especially after experiencing it or seeing their friends).
But then Android are pretty complicated and not so user-friendly to use; Even WP7 is better and more simplified.
Now, it's whether this MeeGo can fill in the gaps? If it can, then it should do well, the next problem will be the apps and games availability (assuming the OS is stable and a-OK support at least?).