We expect it because it’s better for how people actually use phones. Not having to worry about getting rained on, for example, is pretty awesome for anyone who doesn’t live in a desert.
The dust part is more of a concern because that’s a lot harder to avoid than rain. For example, most people put phones in pockets or bags which not infrequently collect dust. A regression on that is bad for an ultra-premium device which needs a solid market to fund further R&D.