My dream is to have the watch, and then a cell-enabled iPad in my backpack for when I need more space. It would be perfect!

Agreed! I use an SE because I already want my phone to be as small and basically incapable as possible (with decent UX), and then a laptop when I want to do something a bit more distracting. Text + maps + music is all I really want on me at all times.

This is exactly my plan. I'll let you know how it goes.

the iPad Pro has let me sunset my laptop.

The Watch / iPad Pro / Desktop combo would be ideal for me.

That would be so great, but they need to figure out camera (taking photos is still a big part of what phone in my pocket is used for)

Can anyone recommend a standalone camera that's as easy to use and takes photos as good as an iPhone 7 plus? Camera is now the only reason for me to have a phone rather than a watch. Difficulty: I really like live photos and expect future-me to be super happy with present-me for taking so many live photos of my kids.

If you're going to be taking a camera with you, you might as well as carry a phone instead, since every camera I know is a lot bigger/thicker/have worse battery life than any cell phone. Alternative would be a Snapchat glasses or the discontinued Google Glasses, which have lower-quality image and the added bonus of looking dorky in appearance.

EDIT: Forgot about GoPro Session or those miniaturized action cameras (such as Mobius and Polaroid Cube)

This is my problem too. There is basically no camera with the processing power and size combination of the iPhones. Some of the things they’re doing with the dual-lens thing are pretty impressive.

That said, they're still working around a microscopically tiny sensor and lenses. So if you can compromise on size a bit you can get a RX100 V which shoots great pictures.

Sadly, still no Live Photos, but you could shoot video and grab stills from it. I agree that these are a way more impressive feature than camera makers give credit for.

These are small, with bigger sensors than iPhone:

  Sony RX100 $1000
  Canon G9X Mark II $500

These are bigger but provide 10X-30X optical zoom:

  Panasonic Lumix ZS100 $600
  Panasonic Lumix ZS50 $300

Sony RX100 is very popular among ultra light backpackers. Compact point-and-shoot, with great videos and photos.

iPhone 6/6s/7 with data only SIM, no apps installed might work for your use case.

EDIT: From your comment, I wasn't sure if it was to get rid of the physical phone, or to have a simpler life without all of the distractions a smartphone brings. Sorry about that. It was too late to delete my comment after you replied.

that's not exactly ditching phone all together..

EDIT: All good :) Actually right now my phone already has minimum number of apps installed exactly in attempt to avoid unnecesary use/distractions, with watch only it may be even better (plus one less thing to carry (pocket or not))

For the phone call, you would still need an actual phone, right?