Is Apple’s Home button extinct?

Apple’s Home button

Last night came the first information about the new Assistive Touch panel implemented by Apple in IOS 5 beta 3 for persons with disabilities. This new panel allows us to control directly from our own terminal’s screen a number of functions that normally can be performed only by using the physical buttons or the sensors of our device. Basically, the Home button, the button to activate the Mute function or the volume buttons are useless if the touch panel is activated and because of it, some speculations that focused mainly on the removal of the Home button from iDevices have arisen.
What the logic behind having a Home button if our devices can control the button’s functions directly from the screen? Why implementing a physical button if by removing it, the screen and work space could be extended? The Home button is a “trademark,” if you will, of iDevices. It is a tool that helps users close any application even when they are blocked or the screen is not responding. Eliminating such a button would translate to the impossibility of closing an application when the terminal is blocked, inserting the terminal in DFU / Recovery Mode or reset the terminal.
Aside from the practical aspect, in terms of design, maybe a terminal without a Home button would be more attractive to customers but there’s a disadvantage as they should learn again how to use an iPhone or iPad tablet. I do not believe that Apple will remove the Home button too soon from its iDevices regardless whatever gestures and features implements in their new IOS. What do you think? How would you handle with the Assistive touch panel and the lack of a Home button? We can’t wait to see Apple’s plans and surprises. Stay tuned for more news surrounding this issue!