That is as I remember.
I wanted to dump my SB-700 as it's only 10 grams lighter (as I recall) compared to the SB-800. The SB-700 is virtually the same size. I tried a Godox system but found it had anomalies that made it useless to me. When I shoot in a PR/event style I use Nikon's flash value lock. I think that is what didn't work correctly.
At this point I use an SB-700 as Master or Controller (limited to 2 groups) and SB-800s as slaves. I would dearly love something about the size of an SB-800 that could operate as a master or controller.
Nikon should release a full featured replacement for the SU-800 but the market might not support one. I guess Nikon has done its marketing research.
Best,
Dave
People choose third-party flashes like Godox for the low cost and/or for the compatibility of the same triggers with larger flashes. Higher-end brands like Profoto make both small and large flashes that work with their own triggers, although I would argue that Nikon's small flashes (such as the SB-5000) are superior in some usability (smaller, more balanced) and features aspects (Profoto's hot shoe flashes don't support mixed TTL/Manual groups). Nikon's triggers work with Nikon flashes and there is no studio flash line that would work directly with the WR-R10 or the optical triggers (though very basic optical triggering is supported by at least some studio flashes as well, this is with just very basic manual functionality.
Because of these reasons I think people don't buy a lot of Nikon flashes at the moment, and this reduces Nikon's motivation to develop new products in the lineup. They did develop new versions of the radio triggers so that an adapter is no longer required for either connector type.
I think a lot of people would also like a full-size flash controller which goes into the hot shoe and has a panel and controls for the flash groups. Nikon's solution is nice in some ways (it allows the older optical CLS controllers and flashes to be used at the same time as the WR-R10 series triggers SB-5000's, and this goes also for third-party flashes and triggers). So one can mix SB-5000's, Nikon CLS optical remotes / masters / controllers, and third-party hot shoe based triggers / flashes. So it's like the path of maximum compatibility. However, I think for many the small radio triggers seem too fragile and they don't offer direct controls or panels, so the user has to go into the camera menu to adjust the settings.
I think it would be nice if Nikon offered a successor to the SU-800 with both optical and radio remote support. But this would block the use of studio flashes at the same time for those who want to mix products, as the Nikon CLS triggering would not activate those correctly when used in a mixed configuration.
Nikon seems to be partnering with Profoto (and Nissen), or at least helping them make their flashes more compatible with Nikon cameras, but the issue is in my opinion that Profoto's hot shoe compatible flashes are sort of intermediate in size between traditional hot shoe flashes and studio flashes, and there is a lot that Profoto should learn about on-camera flashes before they could be considered a replacement for flashes like the SB-5000's. Please, no floppy flash heads but something that sticks to its position even when in a slightly rougher ride. Also, they should really include full mixed TTL/Manual by group configuration of the remotes. And make some smaller units similar in size to the SB-7000. Mirrorless cameras are smaller than DSLRs and the flash units need to be reasonably balanced for on-camera use.
For me I can't for the life of me understand why people would choose cheap off-brand flash triggers and small flashes that can work ok with some Nikon models, but some features don't work on some or all the cameras, so one can really never know what one is getting in terms of feature compatibility and reliability. I do understand the desire for ability to trigger both studio and small flashes from the same trigger interface. If I recall correctly, Elinchrom has made their flash control interface and communication protocol open so that others can create compatible units. However, I don't know if anyone has done so apart from Elinchrom themselves. I think the field of flash is in desperate need of standardization.
