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The question is, will iOS become more like OS X, or will OS X become still more like iOS? Or is it finally time to look forward to OS Xi?
The developer preview of Lion makes it pretty clear which way things are heading. I wouldn't expect much deviation from that on the Mac side. I'll be interested to see what they're planning for iOS 5 though.
It's all marketing spin. Let's not forget the iPhone launch in 2007:

"We start with a strong foundation. iPhone runs OS X. ... Desktop class applications and networking."

Flash forward to a world that has been fundamentally changed by the iPhone and iOS, and the new marketing line is:

"The power of Mac OS. The magic of iPad." and other such lines about bringing iOS to Mac OS.

It's all about perception, reality, and marketing.

I think it's funny that tickets are $1599. That will definitely attract more people than when it would be $1600.
I know the concept of price ending, but my point is that 1. WWDC sells out anyway, and 2. It's mainly companies paying their developers to go here.
Your second point might be technically accurate, but there's a very large contingent of indie developers, like myself, with 1-5 employees that shoulder all the cost ourselves.
Also, many companies / governments have different procedure for stuff over $X, but $(X - 1) might be easier. Doubt anyone has a break at $1599 vs $1600 though.

It is often easier to order a $4,999 item than a $5,000 item.

I’m greatful the announcement has enough lead time to book a flight and a hotel.
My 'The question is' is: Will Lion demand 1GB, 1.5GB or 2GB or RAM?! I mean absolute minimal install requrements, not ideal ones.
You can answer that question by looking at what the oldest 64-bit machine was and seeing how little ram you could buy one with.
Good to see we got more notice than the 40 days last year, which made it a royal pain for anyone coming from the Worldwide part of this developer conference.

Whilst an expensive trip if it is anywhere near as useful as it was in 2009, its well worth it.

If it sells out, you have to wonder whether the developer part of the conference should be ticketed separately from the keynote, as I would happily miss the keynote for access to the information.

Argh, If only I could afford it. All of my money is tied up by sending it home to support my parents. :(
I'm learning the iOS SDK and I think I'd truly benefit from attending, but the $1600 price is WAY out of what I can reasonably afford. So does Apple ever offer reduced rates for people just starting out? Seems to me that'd be a wise investment on their part. After all, if they offer seats for 75% off, and just one person makes a blockbuster app, they'll more than make the difference up in app store and or iAds fees.
If you’re a registered developer, the session videos and materials will be on iTunes, after some delay.
In recent years the delay has gone from months, to a month, to weeks, to a week, to mere days. This year, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't online the day after they were given.
And the price for the videos went from $500 for 2009 to $0 for 2010.
Discount will never happen as the seats are booked solid very quickly. It is price that high partly due to high demand. If it is priced at $500, all the seats will be taken within minutes. I hope Apple will follow last WWDC by releasing the session videos free into iTunes U after the event.
There are student scholarships that aren't super difficult to get, but I think that's it.
This will be my first WWDC. :)
I'll be there. My first developer conference since NeXTWorld Expo 1994.