Is the res on the mini that bad? I use an Asus memo HD 7" because it was dirt cheap and was a significant upgrade from my pokey Galaxy Tab 2 7". I was gonna get the mini but it was too much $$$. I was kinda hoping the mini would drop in price and get that just for netflix and browsing while in bed but I never compared it to any other semi-hi res 7" tabs. How bad is it? Like, asus transformer 101 bad?
The Android tablets have Netflix and browsing in bed of course.

However, I do prefer browsing in iOS, mainly because websites more consistently optimize their websites for the iPad than they do for Android tablets.
The rez is usable but not good. We use the same resolution the iPad 2 and it's OK, but not preferred. People talk about the slower speed of the iPad 2 (since it's so old now), but if I had to choose one vs. the other, I'd choose Retina over faster speed. Luckily, the next iPad mini and will likely get both.
The mini will more likely get retina than a price drop. The res on the mini is ok, but I personally wouldn't buy it because I want retina from my mobile devices.
Same.
The iPad 2 was OK when we bought it, but that was years ago.