To me this seems like a good sign. This sends a clear signal to the carmakers that hybrids are for mileage. People don't care that you have a high hp hybid if the milage isn't there and this time the public spoke. And I think correctly.
Let's see some nice MPG cars, hp is overrated. I should know I just sold a 450 hp Corvette. And I'm looking for a high FE car...
I think that if there had been a basic 4-cyl Accord Hybrid with a manual transmission, I would have bought that instead of the Element. But the 6-cyl was too expensive, had more power than I needed, and was AT only.