I just wanted to add two-cents re: why people would buy these sorts of rigs. a) people want a gaming rig with power available now, b) these people have disposable income and are ok with switching out rigs as new hardware comes out (since mobile GPU aren't supposed to be swappable by users - though I've seen the GPU on my laptop - it's easily removable), c) they value mobility, and d) NOT ONE PERSON THAT BUYS THESE RIGS EXPECTS TO BE MOBILE GAMING ON BATTERY FOR ANY USEFUL AMOUNT OF TIME - THAT IS JUST SILLY - they just want to be able to grab the rig and move somewhere and plug in to play. Simple as that. Expensive proposition? Sure as hell it is, but it's a choice. And for what it is worth, I've own "gaming laptops" in the past, starting with a Toshiba WAY back in the day. It was awesome. I then went back to desktops as my need for mobile diminished. Now, I'm back on a Alienware 18 (I chose this model because of cooling intake/exhaust position and CPU/ GPU placement relative to wrists). And, though I wish I had waited for Alienware's dual-GPU version of their Graphics Amplifier, I have to say that I love this laptop. It stays docked 95% of the time, sure. But I can go anywhere in the house or visit a friends and get some game time when remote isn't enough.