If the benchmarks from the other front-page post are true, then not releasing a MBP version would have left them in a position where the AS MBA outperforms their entire MBP line.
Yep, but due to the new high speed on-package RAM architecture they couldn’t support more than 16GB RAM, so couldn’t retire even the 13” Intel MPBs because some people need the RAM. It all makes sense.
I was also surprised, but consider that "Pro" to Apple means photographers, video editors, musicians, etc. just as much as (or perhaps more than) developers.
It's the lower tier MBP though - it replaces the "two port" one. The "four port" one is still Intel.