Interesting replies...
I see both sides of this debate but, in the end, it boils down to competitive features in a competitive market.
One of the downsides to the 9 is a lack of certain detail features that competitive vehicles have. They aren't necessities, of course, but they can be useful to many.
AWOL features in the U.S. market (not comprehensive - feel free to add).
1. Memory exterior mirrors.
2. No dash indicator for fog lights.
3. Lack of a trip computer.
4. Low rent tire pressure monitoring system (no indictor for which tire or display of measured pressures - no substitute for regular checking of pressures but...)
5. Interior lights don't come on when unlock is pressed. Correction: Yes, they do with the remote and the door button but, sometimes with the door button they don't until you pull the handle.
6. Can't program unlock sequence (drivers or all doors)
7. Can't program doors to lock automatically (either in gear or at, say, 15 mph)
8. Homelink remote standard (It looks like this will be standard for '09 in Canada at least)
9. Auto dimming rearview mirror and exterior mirrors (autodim interior coming in '09 it appears tied with Homelink).
Others?
Point being that other manufacturer's vehicles in the same price range offer these features as part of the deal. They aren't everyones cup of tea, to be sure, but they are useful for many and it isn't unreasonable to expect them to be present.
Now why some of the above are present in other markets (trip computer and fog lamps on indicator, to name two I'm aware of) and not the U.S. is a head scratcher. It's not like the 9 doesn't have a programmable system - it does - and the trip computer data is there, but Mazda chose not to provide the interface for it in the U.S.
Personally, I'd have been happy to give up the 20" bling wheels and the $5400 transfer case ( which I still think is grossly overpriced for what it does ) if the money would have gone towards the features listed above and something better than the felt liner they used on the floor. But that's just me!
Ted