i dont think that the nano is any indication of where apple is going with its products. i think that the nano is just a product of competition. i dont think that for the future apple products will loose features....
As nice as it is to not have to do anything but click a mouse button to get an entire album, I think that once that album (or song) is yours, it should remain yours. I'm not sure I am too happy with Apple telling me what i can do with the music that i have purchased and now own.
Lessons From the nano
Not Good: Jobs Changes The iTunes Rules