****Yes, it will of course be direct plug in / no wires. There would be no point to it otherwise. In fact the 8 pin may actually go mid term anyway, and be replaced as well before too long. its a clumsy big thing and there are better options.
I should really have said "long live separate wires"...
While they slowly get better, UK manufacturers haven't been all that clever with accommodating decoders properly - and that does make it hard for some, I do agree. However the very small decoders with integrated 8 pin are now broadly available, and because of the 8 pin, decoder choices also remain wide. A wired decoder is still the only ame in town for kit built loco's etc, so 8 pin or an updated equivalent will not ever really go away... there will alwys be a need for a universally applicable connector.
However, the 22 pin will, like the 21 pin really be little use without a matching decoder... and that is a problem of its own for those who want a little more than the out of the box locos allow. Remember, they would not exist if it didn't make the Mfrs assembly easier, and that is not always to all consumers advantage...
So.. becauseMfrs use the fewest functions they can get away with in lighting etc, to many more hands on people there will be a downside to the integrated 21/22 pin socket combination. They are of course easy and fine fine for out of the box use BUT Mfrs build for economy when it comes to lighting and sound installs and they often make a pigs ear of both, needing much better placement and configuration for best results - also, Mfrs just do not make ANY provision to connect added functions into the sockets their loco's.
However... I have seen the results of the "average modeller" trying to solder to micro sized solder pads and add items to a small PCB and it is not pretty much of the time... So with the advent of 21/22 pin, it will magnify a lot as a problem, because take away the wires and it requires significant soldering skill to be able to add or activate more light functions, change speaker configurations etc...
My own solution is in most cases to remove almost all Mfr wiring and start again anyway... however I do worry for those who have great aspirations but the wrong tools, a non controlled soldering Iron and limited soldering skills.
regards