The amount of stuff you actually have to sync by plugging in a cable has decreased with every version of iOS. Apple is moving slowly (maybe too slow) but they are moving.

The iPad is only a paperweight without iTunes if you want to be really strict about it — yeah, the initial sync is still necessary (they will do it for you in the Apple Store if you ask, so if you really wanted to you would never have to sync) but then you can do pretty much everything except non-iTunes Store music and videos, photos and (a big one, admittedly) OS updates over the air.