I think this discussion is indicative of a larger problem of buying things we don't really need 'just in case'. The truth is that for most people, their home computer is used for things like email, internet, music, light photo management and editing, word processing and other light work. All computers sold today are more than capable of handling those things, including the MBA. Most people will find the MBA to be perfectly powerful enough for their computer needs, and those who really need power will know it and won't even be asking the question here! A mac pro with a good quality desktop LCD will outperform all laptops and notebook LCDs - period. Everything else will be a compromise, including the MBP and MBA, both in different ways. You choose which compromises make most sense to you based on how you use the computer.
I have a MBP (had several MBAs but due to multiple problems returned them) and love it (and will probably keep it) because of the large screen and feature-completeness. Do I need its power? NO! The MBA would be perfectly adequate for my needs now and probably for the next 2-3 years or more. When I had one, I thought it was snappy and powerful for pretty much everything I threw at it. I made a long list of things I do on my computer, how I use it when at home and when traveling/moving around, and what I need to connect to it in different places. I concluded that Apple in fact made the perfect choices for my usage patterns by removing everything that I don't need when I'm out and about - and when I'm home I can use a hub, external superdrive, harddrive etc so that's fine too. In short: they made the right choices for my specific needs. Whether that applies to you is a different question, but I don't think people should buy based on something they MAY OR MAY NOT need in the future - that's how we've become victims of marketing.
