The disappearance of the traditional amplifier

Like the record I think it MAY in the main stream but not with die hard audio fans IMHO. I will always like the option using different amps, ect...

No its just cheaper and takes up less space.

As Chad mentions it is cheaper - it is easier to build a higher performance amp with limited bandwidth powering one driver than the same quality performance with very large bandwidth driving several drivers as well as a lossy passive crossover. Usually when something is both cheaper and better in performance it tends to win out in the market place. I suspect active speakers will win out eventually if not for performance but more likely because of lower cost for similar performance.