So, as a user you are basically saying it's a fairly basic device for undemanding end-user applications. So in what sense, then, can it possibly be described as "the holy grail" of computing" ?
For a start, none of the tasks you have suggested are really what anybody would seriously call "computing". After all, consuming media and web surfing and so on is the sort of thing you can do on your average TV set in 2011.
To a serious user, the "holy grail" of computing is far more likely to be something that lets them do real work (whether that's creating content, coding or whatever else) with maximum efficiency, minimum hassle and as inexpensively as possible. Precisely the sort of activities you've dismissed it as being any use for.
Do you see why this kind of stupid "best thing evar!" hype gets on my tits now?
Well, that's obvious
Coming fom the Amiga community I find it rather easy to tune out the Hype.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it wasn't Apple that called the iPad2 the "Holy Grail of Computing", which it clearly isn't... But I would argue this is is pretty damn close for a consumer electronic computing device. Think of it like a washing machine, it does what it says it does on the box, it just works, turn it on use it... No worry, no difficulties.
Apple is trading here on the fact that MicroSoft, left big security holes in Win95 and if anything went wrong with your "PC"... You were going to have to take it to an expert to get it fixed, those are the two real features the iPad trades on, the rest is just fluff.
