Well icyfire, obviously quoting your post would be excessive so I'll just drum up my counter argument.
I'm not sure how you made this large leap of logic that I think Google shouldn't have any apps for important functions of the phone. The front facing camera or the rear camera aren't integral to its overall function as a phone. Even if Google didn't have a native app there were still alternatives available to use on the market. The initial offerings haven't been stellar but they are improving. I'm not sure if you have this sense of self-entitlement that Google should have to put anything app related on their phones. Certainly the myTouch 4G has a front facing camera app by another company other than Google. Yes Google should have delayed the Nexus S for a couple of months for further bug testing and to have Google Talk ready for video chat rather than attempt to make some arbitrary release period. However, its still not a reason to be a minus point for the phone since third party apps did exist and have been updated for Gingerbread.
As far as NFC goes, other companies need to be onboard with it before it goes anywhere. For any day to day function out of NFC such as using your phone as a way to pay or as a ticket to enter a concert, the companies have to be willing to let Google work with it. There are legitimate security concerns for people and banks may not be ready for something like this yet. There are some NFC apps filtering into the market according to phandroid. There's a lot of talk from companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google that NFC will be the next big thing in phones so whether it had function immediately wasn't the point, but that it WILL have function and that gives the consumer the option in the future.
You seem to see Android as iOS when its more like Windows. Sure Microsoft offers their own applications, but they also are more than willing to let other people have their programs on it. Unlike Apple, Google really doesn't care what programs are used whether it would be Google Talk for video chat or Fring. That's really the point of Android and it has worked out pretty well for Windows.
I also find your comment that AMOLED is a novelty to be a bit obtuse. AMOLED's advantages are deep blacks, power conservation, and excellent color. I hardly find this a novelty. While your choice of screens is your own, I don't find AMOLED anymore saturated than other screens and most out there produce similar effect like SLCD.
I think too many people are asking too much of the Nexus S. They wanted something to revolutionize the industry again and Google didn't actually need to. The Nexus S is a perfectly usable phone in all regards, but its primary purpose is a staging ground for Google's tech, developing those spiffy programs that use functions like NFC, and Android's future. When taken as a whole compared to the iPhone 4, I still can't see why the Nexus S wasn't equal or iPhone 4 was only an 8 instead of 9. Remember, Consumer Reports wouldn't even give the iPhone 4 a recommendation initially because of the antenna problems. While they may now, I would expect the reduction of some points due to Verizon's limitations on their network.
It just goes to show Engadget's bias and that Apple could sell turds and people would buy them. Not only would they buy them, they'd say Apple's turds are better than your own. Depressing really.
