The following video was recently released concerning the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone. It looks like it is closer to being reality:
One feature of the 3.5mm headphone jack that would seem to be an issue with the lightning connector: How physically strong is the lightning connector? On my devices with the 3.5mm headphone jack the connection is physically strong enough so that the plug doesn't come out if the cord gets pulled on by mistake (my headphones come off instead). But with the lightning connector it looks like it isn't a very strong connection and it would only take a light tug to pull it out. It probably isn't an issue for stationary devices but would it be an issue for mobile devices.