And the 1st Gen SE provided that, it had the same internals as the then-current flagship phones.
Note that Apple's small form factor phones have very often been released out of sync with the main launches in the Autumn. Just because there won't be a new one this autumn doesn't mean the current version will be dropped, and doesn't mean a new small form factor phone won't come along next year, possibly early next year.
There is an SE in the current range and a mini. They are clearly targeted at different audiences.
I'll not that all the complaints I read were during the period when the SE (or equivalent) was available. People were clearly calling for something else yet when it was offered they didn't take it up.