Some of your questions only Apple could answer, and they won't discuss unreleased products. If you did do a lot of traveling the Air would make sense. Since you say you don't... I would not expect the new MBPros out before Spring.
But I do kind of expect style changes going in the Air's direction. As for the "no HD thing"? Not sure.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.