That could be true, but the availability of the 2.5T engine will get customers into dealerships. It will also stop the reviewers from complaining of not having a more powerful engine, which every reviewer seems to do. (I don't blame them, the CX-5 is slow above 70 MPH). That in turn will also help get customers into dealerships, I think. They might leave the dealership in a CX-5 with a 2.5 NA engine, but it was the 2.5T engine that got them there. Almost like a halo car effect.
If Mazda won't put the 2.5T engine into the CX-5 and the diesel engine won't alleviate the highway passing power issue that I have, I will most likely save my money and upgrade to a BMW X3 when the time comes.
I have a different view - with Toyota having a large stake in Mazda, hybrids is the next step for them. But unlike the CVTs in Civic / Prius etc. - it could be a hybrid mated with the amazing transmission mazda already has. Sell it more on the power front than fuel efficiency - the FE is added bonus. If Mazda is able to push hp / torque by 10% on the CX-5 - and FE by 20% - that would be a good natural way forward.