[nickr]

Think about it this way. If intel is releasing this now, Intel is encouraging others to do the same. Intel doesn't want to supply these things, they do things like this to show other vendors there is a market it for it, then let others take over. They're just waiting for the NUC and now the compute stick.

So I'm confident other vendors will eventually bring this about next year.

To show other vendors there is a market for it, Intel has to sell some sticks of their own - otherwise, how to demonstrate a demand?
For HTPC use, I'm their target audience, and I don't understand how should I use it. HDMI to TV, microUSB to charger, and then? I'm left with one full-size USB input and Wifi. And I need 1) remote control 2) free input for local media. At least. Given that its main selling point is being a PC, I may want to plug webcam there, too.

Remote -bluetooth or over IP (eg yatse).

Media, via wireless. Not ideal, but it will work.

However my main problem about this style device is that the cables are inevitably heavier than the device. I prefer my devices to anchor the cables, not vice versa.