No, I believe OP is pointing out that a newer product (the iPad) is being cannibalized by a product originally released earlier (the iPhone). The iPhone cannibalizing the iPod was to be expected - the iPhone came later.

I think it is a pretty astounding change. For a while everyone was thinking "Tablets would kill PCs/laptops". Instead, I think these "super phones" may end up killing (OK, not killing, but at least taking a big bite from) tablets, while laptops remain unscathed because they are still better for heavy duty content creation.

Well that's "normal" progress. To take your example it would be the iPod suddenly roaring back to life after the iPhone had been around 3 years or more and growing rapidly and the iPhone becoming flat in sales. That's why it's so unique (I think)

Kind of like how iPod Nano cannibalized iPod Mini.