Here's what I find interesting.
The iPad doesn’t have an SD card slot, nor a USB port ...
AND Here's what a friend added (although this may not relate to serious photo enthusists): The iPad does come with a USB to 30-pin connector ...
Peter,
Firstly, no need to shout at "size=4".
Secondly, repeat this mantra: "The iPad is a big iPod Touch with a far bigger, better screen and far better touch-screen keyboard; it is not a laptop."
Thirdly, I am not sure why some people are so bothered about the iPod/iPhone/iPad approach of having a single multi-purpose socket on the device, and then providing USB, SD card reading, VGA out, composite video out, keyboard connection and so on through that socket. But I am sure there will soon be slates with a half-dozen sockets along the side, which is more the Windows laptop approach.
Fourthly, my guess/hope is that in time, more and more of this connectivity will be provided wirelessly, through Wi-Fi and blue-tooth.