Apple didn't put a mouse driven UI on a tablet. Why would they put a touch driven UI on a computer? Jobs has said he views PCs are trucks. Based on that statement I think 10.7 is more likely going to be about keeping the truck drivers happy.
I see no reason why, having established touch UI patterns on iOS devices, Apple would have any reason not to start introducing such things on the desktop.
And really, have you been in a pickup lately? They have a lot of car like amenities, like antilock breaks, air conditioners, decent stereos, etc.
It's not clear how or whether would add desktop touch features, but they've clearly considered it.
[1] Imagine working whole day having to hold your arms up to operate the mouse cursor. My arm hurts just thinking about it.
This is Apple we're talking about; they love secrecy, don't want nobody to know what they're doing.
Some of the patents they've filed are probably just ideas, some of them make it into products or features, and some are probably red herrings, meant just to throw their competition off.