> I am starting my PhD in FPGAs (and looking for topics of research!?!)
> and thus interested in knowing the future uses of FPGAs.


Some well-thought-out responses to the majority of the questions that
you've posed can be found in panel sessions or keynote addresses in
conferences like FPGA and FPL from the past couple of years. (For some
reason, keynote speakers at these conferences just *love* to rattle the
"ASIC vs. FPGA" debate.)

As a PhD student, you should have access to the speakers' PowerPoint
slides through your university ...


cheers,
Kris