Joel Crane wrote:Other pro cinema cameras such as RED or Alexxa don't even have that and are all run off external batteries
As you say it yourself... they are PRO cameras. If you have the budget for an Epic, an additional $1k for a set of Anton Bauers does not matter at all. If you are Indie or No-Budget, this may already be too much.
Besides, this camera is not really a Pro-Camera. And even if, almost all cameras come with exchangeable batteries for more then 30 years. And the Epic has a whole array of different exchangeable battery-modules and options.
So the BMCC battery is not only an inconvenience, but also a non-standard.
Whatever you have to buy additionally, lowers the overall awesomeness of this camera. No fanboying will change that.
Blackmagic could have made a smart compromise by turning the battery-part into an external piece by itself, instead of leaving inside the main body. Maybe as detachable base, that can power via cable. That way, it would have been basically the same thing, but with a ton more option and even additional revenue through additional sales.