Yes the AW4416 does look very impressive!
It's look reminds me of my Yamaha O3D- big screen, similar faders and buttons etc. Therefore it looks like I would get into using this quite easily if I went for one later on this year.
It will also have 2 card slots in the back to accept options which Yamaha will be releasing- hopefully ADAT/TDIF/AESEBU/ANALOGUE cards etc and even extra effects/harmony processor on a card like they are doing with their synthes at the moment and like TC electronics have done with the O2R (TC UNITY CARD).
It has 8 aux sends but there aren't all that many analogue outs on the back (mabey this is where the card options come in?). I would definetly get an ADAT card because I could then directly integrate it and my O3D together!!!!
It will feature 2 effects processors on board and induvidual 4 band eq and dynamics etc on each channel. 2 XLR mic inputs will feature phantom power and it will also do 24 bit recording. I like the fact that dedicated knobs will be provided to adjust eq and pan (something I wished my O3D had!).
In the end, I can't wait to get my hand on one of these units and take it for a 'test run!'. Cheers.