And, perhaps, versions of the 4K display with and without a GPU would fit into their m.o. of making pretty high end stuff requiring low effort on the part of users.
and then if the monitors could also run iOS on their own when the computer is elsewhere ...
With as much cash as Apple has on hand it must be difficult not to just put out a single continuum Nano-Touch-iPhone-Mini-iPad-monitor-TV with OS X computers only occasionally filling a role for content creators.
I do think Apple will release a new display this year. I’m hoping for the introduction of a model with 4K resolution, geared towards creative professionals and (medical) science.
When the new Mac Pro was announced, Apple made a big deal about the Mac Pro being able to drive three 4K displays, it’d be odd if they didn’t come up with a best-in-class display of their own.
I suspect it’s not going to be cheap, though. 4K displays currently go for $3500, and Apple’s current display costs $1000. So if it happens, the 4K display is likely a high-end option, not a replacement for the current model.