Whoops, guess I stopped receiving email updates about this thread at some point. Though I mainly write to just organize my thoughts, its always cool to hear that other people get something out of it too. Many thanks for all the replies!
@fonzman78 Microsoft has created a device that no one else even comes close too. Unfortunately, as always, their delivery isn't perfect; thus, all the criticisms throughout. But, at the end of the day, if you need a tablet, and a PC, and a laptop and also want to travel light...well, again, no other device comes close.
Having used the SP3 for about two months now, I can honestly (and cheesily) say that it feels like the future is a bit nearer. And every so often, I catch myself dazedly staring at the device from the side and wondering how the full PC experience can be crammed into such a beautifully thin and light experience.