Is a flip out swivle LCD necessary for videography? (on DSLRs)?

I'm confused between the Canon 60D, Canon 7D and maybe the nikon d7000. I've heard the articulated lcd screen can slow down AF, is this true?

Plus, its not absolutely necessary to have more than 9 point AF system, right?

I can't seem to understand how someone could shoot video with a DSLR or any camera without a flip out LCD, while using a tripod. But There are more short films made with the 7D than the 60D! So What's the deal here? Is there some magic way that amateur videographers shoot wonderful videos without using the flip out LCD while seeing what their filming? Without using the optical viewfinder?

I really like the 7d but can't fathom shooting good video with it.

Since of the three, only the D7000 has auto-focus in the video mode, the point of slower auto-focus with an articulated LCD is moot.

My guess is you have seen this video:

Shooting from a miniature helicopter, auto-focus is necessary to say the least

My camera has 51 AF points and sometimes I wish it had a few more that the edges of the viewfinder.

Most amateur videographers I know use 3-CCD video cameras. They have all the features necessary to shoot video and do NOT suffer form CMOS overheating nor the jelly effect unique to CMOS sensored cameras

Here is a link to what else you will need to make a dSLR into a viable video camera

http://www.redrockmicro.com/redrock_dslr.html

And

http://www.lensrentals.com/news/2009.07.08/slr-video-culture-shock

And

http://store.zacuto.com/Z-Finder.html

NOTE: One reason more videos are shot using the 7D is because there are more of them on the planet. It as introduced in September 2009. The 60D has only been available since August 2010

If I could take out the LCD to save precious battery power then I'd gladly do it.