By Canon standards 2021 will go down as a low year with the the announcement and release of one camera in the R lineup namely the R3. The low end of the system is now old by today standards and the wallet friendly cameras that get you into a system sorely missing altogether. This surely must be one of Canon priorities in 2022.
I agree. With the R3, R5 and R6, Canon has the upper level cameras very well covered, but the lower end models no longer stack up well against Nikon's offerings, in my opinion. While I liked the R, after I had a chance to use the Nikon Z5, I sold the R (and got more than I payed for the Z5). When I saw a good deal on a used Z7 I bought that, too. The cost for the two Nikons was about equal to the cost of a new R6. I know that - on the internet anyway and with the influencers - Nikon seems to be ignored or looked at negatively, but for someone who the R5 is just beyond their budget, I would totally recommend them. The RP does not compare well with the Z5. The RP, with it's older sensor tech, single card slot, no IBIS is a nice camera, but the better IQ of the Z5, with it's better sensor, is really quite noticeable. Similar comparisons can be made with the Canon R and the Nikon Z6, with the exception of the sensor IQ, which, in my opinion, is still slightly better with the Nikon, but probably not enough of a difference to matter.
I still have Canon glass, so I might be interested in lower priced Canon models moving forward, especially if they do bring out an APS-C camera which I would then pair with the new RF 100-400mm. The lightness of that lens totally interests me, but not so much on a FF camera. There are still things I like better about Canon (the articulating screen, the dust removal and curtain, the better AF) so I will be interested in what they do moving forward.