"All this leaves us with a MacBook Pro that falls well short of expectations"

I agree that not fixing the long-standing keyboard mechanism issue would be a huge bummer but, do we really need thinner bezels?? And, with all of the reports and youtube videos of thermal throttling of supposedly "fast" processors, do we really even need a chassis to be as thin as it is right now? This thing doesn't have to fit in anyone's pocket now, does it?

I'd vote to build a MBP that is 1/4" thicker if it could better handle the heat of faster processors, and not throttle-down the CPU to slower speeds.

What good is having the fastest (and more expensive) processor when it is throttled down to speeds slower than the "slower" (less expensive) one?

Just me — JFly

You are wasting your breath, the laptop like the notepad is going away albeit slow and painful death. Apple pretty much implied with the "trash can" design what they thought of MacPro customers, they just don't care. Apple is interested in controlling the user something it can do on an iPhone but not on a Mac. There is serious money to be made on "services" and that is where Apple is going. Apple is chasing the dollar, instead of leading by design.

Besides, with foldable phones allowing for larger screen sizes most users will no longer need the bulky devices.

Ok, spoiler alert, I'm tired and not in the best mood . . . . .   I have worked for Apple . . . . .  I've also worked for IBM . . . . .  I'm now a retired airline pilot who started another business late in life . . .   I use iPhones, iPads, Macs, PC's and I generally like the latest and greatest technology, its a real weakness at times.   I truly want to like Apples direction on computers, in particular their laptops.  I also want apple to succeed in its endevours to innovate . . . . . . . . . . . . but here is my overall feeling about what Apple has done with its computers since my last MacBook Pro Retina purchase in 2013, which I still use and love . . . . .ok, ready?    HoHummmm and a big Yaaaawwwwnnnnn. . . . . . .   I still use my Mac and really wanted to purchase another last year but there was nothing compelling about the current generation so I'm using my Microsoft Surface Book 2 15" i7 with 16 Ram and 512 ssd. . .....   not so ho hum . . . darn nice computer . . .  bright screen, noticeably better than the Macbook Pro Retina and I think better than Apples current Macbook Pro . . . .  but that is subjective . . . .   and I didnt mention . . . a great tablet mode with touch screen.  All of this for less than $2500 . . . . . . .   NOW. . . .  I MUST SAY,  my macbook pro is still more pleasant to use.  The shape of the keyboard, the angles on the edge of the Microsoft Surface book are not as comfortable to use as the mac.   Also, as improved as windows is over previous generations . . . . .  sorry but  Apples OS is still more stable and easier to use but ony by a ever decreasing margin.........

So  Apple, I know you really dont care all that much what your clientel want . . . .  you long ago decided you would tell us what we want and then deliver something quite amazing.  However, for several years now, you no longer deliver cutting edge "amazing" products, and so the old model of telling us what we want is well, its getting old, like me . . .   My 2 cents . . , Find someone to lead Apple into the next decade and retire most of the current leadership . . . .  Apple isnt truly innovatie as it once was.......... So please, become innovative or at least.....  do what the Chinese Communist do so well . . . . .  look at your competition, see what is working well and steal their ideas and make them better. 

I used to be a staunch apple advocate! spent large sums and happy to do it  new phones for the family every year or so new MBP's for all that needed a laptop  iPads and then iPad Pros  but the last couple of years has been completely lack luster  ... a new camera ? really? that's what will get me to buy a new phone  seems like Huawei  makes a better MBP than Apple  really ? that is all the better APPLE with all its resources can do ?  not even tempted at all anymore!  STEVE COOK are you listening take some risk and do something AWESOME instead of resting on the past  resting on the other  Steve  I think he'd be horrified at what apple has become. making money Yes by the container ship!  doing AWESOME  not so much ,  standing by to see AWESOME. or I can spend a lot of $$ elsewhere. it hurts just to here myself say this all out loud . Steve I hope you are listening. Be a great steward of what you were handed not just perpetuate the business.

I hope that it is a full refresh. And that it is not just another cycle of thinner chassis, and less functionality.
The pre-retina MBP was a champ. It had all the ports I needed. It got the job done. It looked cool. It had a great keyboard.
Sadly, I expect we will get another gimmicky refresh. It will be even thinner just so Tim or Craig can hold it up at an Apple event and get a bunch of oohs and aahs over it's anorexia.

OTOH, they could commit to making a pro machine. 8 cores minimum. USB-C/TB and USB A, UHS-II SD card reader. 32gb ram, Nvidia GPU.
Maybe even two NVMe slots!?

Apple has refreshed the design of the MBP every 3-4 years.
OG release was 2006.
Unibody was 2008.
Retina was 2012.
Butterfly was 2016.
The MBP is due for a body refresh, but I agree that it's not going to be radical. I'm just hoping that they dump Butterfly for a better system. I think it makes financial sense for them to do so since the recalls and repairs have cost them quite a bit.

This is just my theory: Apple could release an 16-inch MacBook Pro with larger body, then shrink the bezel to make it 17-inch later