Thanks, cap... I would like to know everything, but the same answer in defense of Simba.
1. You can write a program with Qt, in the case of small applications, it is not harder than doing a desktop of applique. There is a Nokia Qt SDK all in one place.
2. The platform is not dead and is actively developing.
3. Sense from developers Bayanicq I will personally 0
4. For payment to me deeply to sneeze, it is still opensource, I just need so I can in your device to have a normal jabber client with support for conferences.
All... waiting for the release Qt 4.7.2, which promised native support for Symbian toolchain in Linux and then do the porting, the benefit is already working maemo5 port, it is necessary only to adapt under S60 and all.