They've recently said they're going to do this, it seems it is just switched off in the firmware (what were they thinking!!)
Their thoughts were the sensor shake could be heard in the recordings, but no big deal if you are not using live sound, and in any event it could be eradicated in sound processing as when removing the crackle and hiss in old vinyl records if it is an issue.

Nigel, you're not going daft, I'm sure I saw that on some of the early photos of it too. It must have been a design mock up of the camera and presumably Pentax thought having that did indeed downgrade it so swapped it for the K1 style mode dial.
I was quite surprised at seeing the change to the K1 style following the comment in this thread.

Fair enough, thanks for clarifying.

I actually buy quite a lot off eBay and only rarely have had problems, but it is annoying when some sellers don't seem to know and abide by the current trading laws and try and fob you off. I'm sure you must feel the same.
I've pointed out errors in peoples' listings. Some are quite appreciative while others display a bad attitude and tell you to get lost when this happens. Guess who I buy from? You may not realise it but I contacted you via eBay regarding buying a lens. You may think I'm about to slate you off but I'm not, it was a reasoned response!

Don't say you haven't been told and offering friendly advice isn't being rude.

What about these:

You are in the eyes of the law if you buy to sell on, and if so you should register as a business seller on eBay. Looking at your listings you have sold around 40 high value photographic items since Jan 1st this year which don't look to be old junk coming out of your attic for disposal. If the HMRC pick up on this they'll be after your accounts, possible back tax etc even if you have not hit the tax threshold,, They're getting hot on this now. People regularly buying to sell on like that are getting picked up by HMRC so you'd be wise to keep it above board.
Also, as a business seller you're obliged to have a returns policy, you shouldn't be ducking out of that by not accepting returns unless the items are sold by auction. Your listings are mostly BIN.
If you believe me to be wrong, just search the HMRC and ebay rules of buying to sell on and check the business seller requirements. As a business seller you actually would get beneficial final value fees etc.
Should HMRC catch up with you before you tell them, then good luck!

Hadn't realised you were a camera dealer.

Hi Derren, you'll get so many different answers you'll be more confused afterwards than what you are now!
Either the KP or the K3ii with the 55-300 PLM is likely to be the fastest focussing combination, and with the KP you can go to unimaginable ISOs ! If the weather is very overcast the 55-300 might seem a little on the slow side so a faster lens may help a bit keep the shutter speeds up, if that's what you want. Sometimes though a slower shutter speed enhances the action. On this occasion I'd try what you have already and see how it copes. If you find you need a lens with a wider aperture you'll know for another time.

Just buy a couple and lend them out!

Hopefully that's solved it, if not, when you focus manually, can you actually take a photograph? (Sorry, you've already answered that in the affirmative.)
Another probably silly unhelpful question, what lens('s) are you using? Its not unknown for the motors in some lenses to fail should the lens actually have a motor (thinking SDM here such as the 18-135mm.)
BUT - the lens is trying to focus so it doesn't sound like its a lens motor issue.
If its a normal 18-55 for instance the motor is in the camera body and it appears from what you've said that motor is working which could point to the AF module being iffy. I can't help with that one, other than to suggest that focusing in live view should work as it uses a different focusing system!