@hybotics I'm inclined to agree with your theory, based on my own observations over the last couple of years. I'm hoping that better file systems will remedy this, at least to a degree, but even better storage is probably what we really need.
Smaller amount of storage definitely is a big part of the equation. Cache and swap takes its toll and when there isn't enough ram, where is stuff to go, right?
Devices are getting better and better, but there are still many things to improve yet. :)