As a frequent traveler and Hilton Diamond, I rarely (almost never) see a hotel TV adequet for movie watching.
Really? I stay only at Hiltons on my frequent business trips and they always have a HDTV that has some sort of HDMI port. Most often I can find a button to change the input on the TV, but in the worst case I can use the IR blaster on my S4 to get it to that HDMI input.
In fact, they are never properly calibrated. Perhaps I am spoiled by Panasonic plasmas.
Well yeah they are crap compared to my 65 inch panny, my home theater sound system and my XBMC HTPCs. But that is the whole point- I am not at home but I still want some of the convenience of home. I usually bring and watch comedies so I don't care if the colors are off or worry if the TV can't keep up with fast-paced action.
I'd rather spend the time at the pool, gym, executive lounge, and outdoors.
Well that is you. The places I often go to for work are not very fun outdoorsy places. I only stay at the gym for an hour or so. I would prefer to avoid the pool and the army of kids that have peed in it that day.
Furthermore I wear myself out working during those days. I just want to get back to hotel room and relax, and my 64gb SD card with movies helps me do that.
Plus, if you travel to a hotel, most likely you have a laptop/tablet that has hdmi out.
That is a mighty large assumption there. When I travel for work I have to bring along a work laptop (that I CAN'T use for media), so I will go out of my way to not bring two.
In fact many people only bring an iPad/tablet and their phone as their primary computing devices on vacation. When airports make you dig out your laptops for security, and airplanes still make you turn off and stow laptops on takeoffs and landings, just having mobile devices makes traveling easier.
As a home owner, I have HTPC setup and would rather keep my phone where it belongs: in my pocket.
So basically you are saying you don't want further functionality in your phone. Great, that is perfect for you and grandma. Basic devices serve the needs of many.
But I want my phone to be more. Why is it detrimental for me if I have choices with more capabilities than what you want? People seem to like capability in mobile devices, hence the app revolution.