The MS RT tablet is the same thing as anyone else's tablet. The only thing it's lacking is games you might find on other tablets. There is just about every mainstream app available otherwise.
I don't see why people think these tablets need to be anything more than anyone else's tablets. My A500 with its tegra2 chip work great for what it does and has for 3 years, but I don't expect to run photoshop or premiere on it. It serves a tablet purpose: consumption. Web browsing, GPS navigation, video/audio streaming, social networking, simple games and apps. Unless you're a tablet app developer, if you think you're going to do much else with a tablet (beside the Surface Pro), you haven't done much homework.
I can't install my x86 apps on any iPad or my Android tab? It doesn't mean they're garbage. Tablets do what they do.
If you want increased functionality, you have to get the Surface Pro tablet, laptop, or desktop and you pay for it.
I tried the RT in the Microsoft store and even the current gen is as good or more responsive than other tablets out there. If I were in the market for a tablet (and didn't have unrealistic expectations for a tablet's functionality), I'd definitely consider an RT.