Chevalier,

You failed to list iListen as a speech recognition program.  It is Mac-only. Perhaps you should take a look at it if you have not.  Like the other programs, it is not perfect.  Sometimes, I have been able to set it up where it works astonishingly well.  Other times, when I have to redo a lost profile, it is pretty bad.  But, that has been the same with other programs.  IBM’s ViaVoice also worked great...sometimes.  I am disappointed that IBM has not kept it up for the Mac, though.  We need more.  I am happy that iListen has stayed with the Mac and am happy to support them while they continue to improve. 

You are right.  Apple has not seemed to have invested the resources to boost speech as they have to other areas of their OS and their other software.  I like to think that they will surprise us one day by announcing a major speech breakthrough.  Alas, it is perhaps a pipe dream. 

I believe that speech will eventually have important uses for us, especially when we are not sitting in front of the computer - as with Star Trek.  They especially turn to speech when they need some quick info as they wander the ship or stand in whatever room away from a terminal.  I really do envision that happening as we wander throughout our homes. 

And, I believe there will be other uses for it that will support our “normal” input methods.