Myself and others agree with your sentiments for the 16:10 format:
http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20624
My problem with 16:9 is that the way they get 16:9 is by cutting off resolution off of a 16:10 monitor. Now if they added more pixels (kinda like how they go from 1440x900 to 1600x900) that would be (in my mind) a better way to do things and would make me more inclined to by 16:9 panels. But alas this is what they do to get the following formats in the high end resolutions:
16:10 2560x1600
16:9 2560x1440
21:9 2560x1080
All I see is them hacking off resolution to go wider.
Along similar lines for 24-27 inch monitors:
16:10 1920x1200
16:9 1920x1080
Enthusiasts see the benefit of 120 more lines of resolution offered by 1920x1200.
Average consumers are so indoctrinated with the terms Full HD and 1080P that x1200 has dropped out of their awareness. They are ignorant of x1200 offering more to view than x1080, and the main market is aligning with this overwhelming yet short-sighted awareness.
For example, at HP.com 16:10 monitors are only found in the Small & Medium Business section, while every monitor in the Home & Small Office section is 16:9.