I think there is definitely merit to this - Windows 8 showed how easy it is to get the hybrid approach wrong, and the gestures with the MacBook's multi-touch trackpads seem to me to be a better way than having to reach up to touch the screen all the time...
On the contrary, a lot of people do find the hybrid approach very useful especially once they are accustomed to it. When travelling I take my Surface Pro instead of my laptop and by the time I am back, I am so used to touching and taping on my screen that I unconsciously do it on my laptop making me look like an idiot. I find touchscreens great and believe it is a means to complement your existing workflow, not replace it.
What Windows 8 did wrong was messing with the familiar old-school interface a bit too much, which made many non-tech-savvy users confused and miserable. My dad had a terrible time with Windows 8. But me? The Surface pro is easily among my favorite devices ever.