I bought a 15" 2.66 w/ 9600GPU in November, including Parallels 5 and doubling the RAM, for just barely over $1800. There's retail price, and there's the price it's on sale for. Lets not forget. But yes, Apple can hold that price a LOT longer. When sales begin to slide, they do offer discounting (MPB price did drop twice in last 2 years btw).
As for the next new MBP: I think BR is a non starter. It really has no necessity in a notebook. Almost all the BR media being sold comes with digital copies today, and HD content is easily available through a lot of other providers. If it's available at all, it better be an option, and it better be a writer first, reader second...
As far as processors and other specs, for $2K, I'd expect in the pro line that it not be a cut back i7, as Dell offers, but a slightly more powerful version of it, and that chip only as an option with the i5 standard. I'd expect likely on the 17" to come in quad core version.
I expect 4GB base, with 8GB standard in the higher end lines. Tripple chip slots, not double, DDR3 at 1333 or faster. I expect reasonably prices SSDs in 128 and 256 GB to be options but still basic yet high speed HDD standard on all the models.
LED backlit IPS panels, slightly higher resolution, and an adjustment in ratio to more fit HD content. GPU includes Optimus or equiv technology, and even the base model will have 1080p native h.264 playback capabilities (not the Intel embedded GPU). The secondary GPU option will be something we have not seen yet, not the most powerful on the market, but ahead of the curve and at least 2-4x the power of the 9600.
Slight improvements in battery life, but not much. A fraction of a mm thinner too, still unibody construction, but an even thinner (and yet somehow more solid feeling) screen.
I think 3G will make a debut in the machine, as an option, if not a way to wirelessly tether, same data plan options as the iPad, $29 and no contract.
Add wireless HDMI/DisplayPort to this equation as well, and although i think its a complete waste, USB3. The MBPs 15"+ will retain firewire, but it will likely disappear from the other machines.