To answer the original thread question...
The reason Digital has a perceived flatness or lifelessness ... would be latitude and dynamic range
Digital backs are the only sensors that have come close to film in those respects... this is why digital is easier to overexpose, overblow, or what have you...
The Fuji S1, S2, S3 were not the easiest DSLRs to use yet they are a favorite of the image quality crowd because the Super CCD sensor has a greater dynamic range than the DX and CMOS chips.
Same thing is film ... some films have higher latitudes, some have flatter latitudes... but it still all comes down to the photographer, his abilities, pre and post processing; of course their eye.
If you don't like digital photography because you can't get the same results or you feel nobody can get the "proper" results then thats your opinion.
I am just amazed at the sheer joy some of us are getting at slamming Leica in the ground as if they had insulted the photographic community for releasing the M8. Granted it has problems, but think of how many threads since the day it was announced of speculations, arguments, and heralds regarding this camera ... there was absolutely no way Leica was going to satisfy even 85% ... they are lucky to get 60%