So the lower end models don't have the higher processors option. It's weird, I know. It's a business decision. There are several reasons they do it, mostly having to do with being able to make more money from people who really can't live without the practically meaningless boost in processor speed. I don't see anything wrong with it. The option will eventually come to the lower end models once Apple has captured sales from people who are willing to pay the premium for the processor.
Translated:
"Apple is fleecing customers, that's fine, eventually they'll release a properly spec'd machine at which time the ones fleeced will end up having bought the machine twice to get what they want."
Just because a thing is, does not make it right.
Look, I love my 17" MacBook Pro. It goes with me to work and I use it all day long for work and personal uses. I can't imagine going back to a PC after having used it. But do you understand why me and people like me badmouth Apple? It's because people keep getting suckered into what is clearly an attempt to fleece consumers into buying the same machine over and over again, because for some stupid reason people keep buying machines that they KNOW have been intentionally gutted. I don't know nor care why these fanboys keep doing that. But it's irritating that Apple refuses to just release the best, the FIRST time instead of incremental releases to add functionality. It makes them look highly unethical and yet people praise them for that crap. Jobs basically told customers they were stupid over the iPhone debacle; people still flock to that phone.
Whatever. In my mind the Air is not what it should have been, and there was no need to gut the damn thing just to get the price down.