Well, that is the way its going, a computer (or a bunch of them) with some RF stuff attached.
The Flex and Anan radios are that, and so are the 7300 and 7610.
You can add knobs and screen, or not, or both.
A 16 bit direct sample rig is a basic these days, so it comes down to the software and what hardware they supply, one antenna port or three or four?
HDMI output or not, etc.
The hardware is easy and simple, the software is the key.
The Icom radios have very good software in most respects, a few things missing, the 7300 is missing a lot of hardware.
So far, the K4 looks to have all the hardware needed and the software looks great also.