Much as I agree with Marty's statement about the obvious ease of use that DEP mode gave us (and it applies to far more photogs than just landscape shooters, BTW), discussing the various merits of the fuction at this juncture is like warning the captain of the Titanic that there are ice bergs ahead, all while the ship is sinking.
In other words, it's too late for that. Let's move on.
To me, the answer is simple: custom functions. There's already one for turning ON and OFF all the other shooting modes, like "P", "TV", "Bulb", etc... Why not just have DEP mode "off" by default so as to make the next version of the camera look exactly like this version? Those who don't use it don't have to be bothered with it... whereas, those of us who need and depend on it, will be made whole again. Doesn't this seem like a perfectly reasonable win-win resolution?
If Canon claims that focus groups said that they don't use DEP mode, what did those same people say about the mode where the shutter doesn't release until something moves into the focus plane at an AF point? Sure, I can see the one time in a million that I could use it, but can you really say that MORE people want that over DEP mode? No one's complaining that it's in the CF list--in fact, no one's complaining that the CF list is even too big.
There simply must be a rational, reasonable discussion on the matter moving forward.
One thing that I must also agree with Marty about: this isn't going to happen unless photogs with clout--and who have the ear of decision-makers at Canon--say something. If it's product reviewers, fine by me.