Other phones and networks already eliminate “the carrier” by being 3G. FaceTime requires you to be on WIFI and if you’re not - well, no FaceTime for you.
I use Skype all the time on my HTC Touch Pro2 on Verizon; VOIP does rock, especially internationally!
Skype's available for the iPhone also, so I'm not sure I understand your points. Okay, you said if you're not on wifi you can't use Facetime, but then follow by talking about how Skype rocks on the HTC and you use it all the time. The other live video streaming application you touted, Qik, also has an application for the iPhone. Fring also has an app for both devices.
So, what you imply are advantages for the HTC were also available on the iPhone. Despite the fact that all these features were already available on the iPhone, Apple decided to develop Facetime. Usually, when Apple develops something like this, it's because they believe they can add value to the technology. This added value is usually in the area of the interface and usability.
Several people have speculated that this is going to go over big. I'm curious as to why. Video calling has been around in one form or another since around 2003. Several people think Facetime is what will move it to prime time. Their points are that you don't have to launch a different application or sign up for an account to use it.
This gets into the area where Apple has had great success. MP3 players existed before the iPod, but Apple made them accessible to the average person. Dittos for several other areas. I know that studies on web site shopping carts indicate that something like 30% of prospective customers drop the purchasing process for every additional screen they have to click on to complete their purchase. This is an indication of what most studies show. One or two clicks makes a big difference in whether a feature is used or not.
If Apple can integrate the video call so that it is as seamless as a phone call, no apps, no new accounts, no different sign ins, no third party capturing and storing your video chats on the internet for others to see, it could be a big deal.