As far as getting stock configurations into stores - product visibility, impulse buyers, and people who don't need a CTO for their uses. There are still Apple stores that don't have a display unit and filling those gaps should be a priority.
The store displays are a complete waste. I've commented earlier, for some reason they never bothered to even put the right software on them.
One of the main selling points for the nMP is the way Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor were fine tuned to work with the dual GPUs, yet they never bothered to install the new versions of any of them.
I ran a simple test, using built-in FCPX generator footage, stretched to 8 minutes and I only added a lower thirds and a simple filter.
The result: The thing ran like a slug. Looooong render times and sluggish response.
My 2011 MacBook Pro exported this sample in 3:15
The in-store Mac Pro took nearly 1 hour!
(Technically, it took about 40 minutes before I simply stopped it and assumed it would take about 20 minute more).
If they didn't want end users to kick the tires... why put them out? Until they can put the right software on them... Keep them in the box, or better still, ship them to people who already paid for them.
