I am not saying that USB is not an essential development for the future; I am saying that USB is given far too much credit where none is due. And if this is off topic, it is because you drove it off topic earlier by arguing that USB is superior to a PS/2 style keyboard port. That is -- to use a cliche -- like comparing apples to oranges. The pc keyboard port was designed to accomplish one thing, accept input from keyboards. It does it's job quite sufficiently. Why use anything but a "keyboard" port for connecting keyboard like devices if that is all that is needed (the logic is definitely simpler).
USB on the otherhand was designed to accept basically any device that can speak its protocol. It also does its job pretty well(i.e. connecting misc. devices), but using USB to interface devices which can be faithfully executed by classic data ports is like shooting a mosquito with a cannonball (more complexity invariably means more bugs to deal with).
I can say I resent the comment about devices obtained in a cereal box because all of my experiences relate to well respected, well known brands: HP, canon, sony, logitech, microsoft(oops

bad example). I can say truthfully that i never had problems with mice or keyboards besides stuck keys or over-use before USB, and any problems with a new interface casts a doubt over that new interface.
I know there are hobby kits availabe for USB, but they cost extra money. If a hobbiest wants to make a USB device they not only have to have all the components of a serial or ps/2 devices, but now you have to add in a usb controller at extra cost to you. It is true that a proper hobbiest likes a challenge, but I would also argue that a smart hobbiest doesn't put up unecessary barriers to the completion of a project.
The point I was making in my original post, which you obviously failed to notice, was that we should make full use of what is available and not arbitrarily chose a protocol because it is the most popular. Different things are better for different things. If you don't believe me, then why do engineers make DSPs for specific task? Or why isn't all internet traffic done over FTP? A lot of things can technically accomplish the same goals, but which is better? The one that is optimized for that purpose.