While just wishing I want S&W to build us a rifle caliber(357)
lever action carbine.

No need to. Three excellent choices already exist.
Compared: .357 Mag. Henry Big Boy, Marlin 1894C and Uberti 1873 Rifles

I'm sure S&W has looked at these three and decided not to try to enter that market segment.

The Marlin is a modern appearance well made gun with a nice walnut stock for under $600. It would be hard to find anyone with something bad to say about a modern Marlin. They reflect over 100 years of lever gun expertise. Plus, .38 special ammo is cheap.

The Uberti is styled from the 1800's and over a grand. The case coloring looks great.

The Henry has the brass receiver, has mixed styling clues from both centuries and is $800-900

Winchester has one that would make it extremely hard for S&W to compete with as it was designed by this guy J.M. Browning.

I'd like to see one in faive-hunert magnum (.500 S&W Magnum)!

Just no IL!

SORRY! I had to say it!

Probley most of you havent heard of what happened when colt built a lever action to compete with the winchester and winchester built a few single action single action revolvers said to be better than colts. Both agreed to stop and decease.