Just because something is no longer shipped as standard equipment, but instead as a pricey add on doesn't mean that it's dead. It just means they found a better way to make money off of it.

I burned a dozen DVD's yesterday for work, that were needed to do a presentation. Should the location they were being shown at be required to change all their equipment because Apple says they don't need DVD's anymore?

It's about options. If people need a DVD they should (and do) have the option to buy one. Because Apple choose to not include one and instead sell it as an extra (and given the design of the new machine, not sure they could have put one in).

You may have no need for DVD, but some others may still want to use them. Certainly less machines will ship with them, but that doesn't mean they are dead.