[mst]

That said it has been deliberately crippled by two things, the battery and the lack of a second card slot, why change the battery, it surely will kill many from having it as a second body, two sets of batteries?? then the single card slot? just stupid!

As far as I understand the new battery is backward compatible, so you can use it in other cameras as well as you can use the earlier model in the D7500.

Fully with you regarding the 2nd card slot, though. I honestly think that's a stupid move. I imagine though that they were afraid they'd make the D500 look less attractive, because for most that's probably a 1-slot camera too... not many are willing to spend big bucks on XQD cards and readers.

-- Markus