Yeah, I think it is based on pure numbers. iPad sales are dropping and seem to be on a downward trend.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/269915/...-since-q3-2010/

It makes sense to kill off the Mini range and focus on the iPad 9.7" and then complementing it with the rumoured 10.5" iPad Pro and the 12.9" iPad Pro. After having owned the 12.9" iPad, I feel like it is in an extremely weird range which I can't find any proper use for it.

Apple has strategically placed the 9.7" iPad to be used in education areas, the Mini proved to be too small for that. Hence the price size and it is the highest selling model in terms of that size. A Mini Pro doesn't make any sense at all especially since the screen size is getting close to that of the plus versions of the iPhone.

I was really hoping that the Mini version would still be updated. I know a lot of my friends especially ladies who love using the iPad Mini. Fingers crossed that perhaps they might have a new 7.9" version or at least update it with the latest processors.

Yeah, I will be waiting for both those to be updated. My wife's Mini 2 could use an upgrade and my current 2012 Mac Mini also will need an upgrade for more 4K content as my home server.