I would still question the value of folders. It makes the homescreen customization experience more confusing and frustrating for everyone in exchange for functionality that's only really useful for a small % of enthusiasts.
Almost everyone I talked to uses folders - especially in iOS where you can dynamically create folders by drag/drop. The alternative if you have 3 dozen or more apps is pretty daunting.
Where I do agree with you is that Springboard needs a major update - I want to see a grid of apps I've recently launched for example (the recents tray on double-tap home is way too small). Or ones that have updates/badges so I don't have to hunt over my 5-6 screens for updates. Perhaps the notifications enhancements (and the "today overview" a la Google Now) might alleviate this.
