It's still a dead connection.
Have you ever seen a firewire device in your life? I haven't.
I have heard it's used on audio - and I believe the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex has a firewire option.
I have and use firewire 800 card readers for my CF cards, one is Sandisk, the other is a Lexar. They are much faster than USB2.
However, its true that firewire is on its way out, I think Sandisk and Lexar both have now discontinued the readers, they did not sell, and required that you add a firewire 800 card to your computer to get the firewire 800 speed.
Right now, PCIE readers are the fastest, and, btw, Thunderbolt is PCIE.