I understand the hostility towards Apple/Macs -- I was like that for a long time, too. In schools especially (high schools & colleges), the systems really don't seem to offer anything else that the PC's don't offer as well. What I didn't realize is that the Macs were really being bogged down by all the security software, etc that were being put on them. The PC's were suffering the same fate, but when everyone brags about Apple's "stability", it seemed kinda silly when they weren't performing any better.
I've been a PC user for, hmm let's see -- 23 years. I've loved them all. But honestly, they aren't perfect pets. They work great once you iron out all the kinks, but even once they are "ironed", you still tend to get a lot more crashes than you do on a mac. And I'm talking everyday things. Then when you get into heavier usage tasks, the difference can be staggering.
The main thing is, PC's CAN run rock-stable -- it just depends on the hardware & the accompanying drivers. While you can swap parts in a mac, the 'pick' is limited -- and that's for good reason; by doing so, the hardware is likely to perform in a much more stable state, since 1000's of brands/makes/models don't have to be supported. That's what I don't really understand about people running Hackintosh computers, and thinking they're getting the full Mac benefits. Sure, it's OSX, and it runs...but the OS and drivers aren't made to fit together in the same way, and likely performance and/or stability is going to not be as streamlined as a result.
One thing people don't take into consideration is that there are applications that are owned by Apple, used by professionals...and not available on PC. Actually, this is initially why I started using Macs (the visual effects application Shake). It was then that I really started loving the OS, hardware, and overall setup.
Do I like PC's?
Oh yes!
But do I love my Mac more than any PC I've ever built on my own (which have been some HIGH end PC's)?
Absolutely!
Are Macs more expensive?
Absolutely!
But have I found it to be worth the money?
For sure!
PCs are great, and certainly more cost-efficient...but try not to slam something just because you don't find it to be "worth the money", especially since most of you have not used a mac EXTENSIVELY (using it at 'the library at school', I would say, does not give you a proper usage scenario -- and neither does a hackintosh).
Honestly...I used to do the EXACT same thing. And now I have a mac.