I agree. If you want Mac OS you obviously need to get a mac (or one of those twisted inbreds you referred to.)
As far as them being more 'capable' goes... sure, I guess. If capability in your mind simply refers to how many checkmarks there are on the list of things a device can do then of course... the iPad can't compete.
But the iPad destroys those devices in categories they can't even enter, let alone compete in. Are notebooks touchscreen? Sure, tablets are... but that's a dreadful (at best) experience. Apple's perfected the multitouch experience on the iPhone and is bringing it to the iPad. This isn't a new device per se. Though pundits think they're taking a shot at it by saying it's nothing more than an oversized iPod touch... in many ways that's not such a bad thing. Usually tech products have to go through a certain phase in which things need to be worked out. This is a new product with 3 years worth of proven capability.
Your point about the OS not being one of the reasons the iPad might potentially be better (given the circumstances of course) is absurd! Of course it's a factor.. in fact, along with the form factor, it's the biggest factor! Just because something may be more 'powerful' or 'capable' doesn't mean it's better. Look at whatever OS your home computer's using now. It can do everything from create a presentation to play an advanced game. But do you really want THAT OS on a device like your phone or HU? hell no! long bootup times and interfaces that require a large monitor are ok for a home computer... but not ok for the aforementioned types of devices. So of course OS plays a role. For what the iPad is... the iPhone OS (especially if it's jailbroken) is the ideal OS. It'll ensure everyone's experience with the device is as easy and worry-free as... well... the experience people obviously love about the iPhone.
In the near future you'll be seeing coffee shops across the country with people using both netbooks and iPads.
The netbook users will be cramming their hands into the tiny keyboard and squinting at the tiny font. Some of them will be putting the keyboards to good use and typing emails (or posting messages like this.) Others will simply be using it to surf the web. few letters here... couple swipes there...
The iPad users on the other hand might be laying on a couch... using their hands to navigate web pages, flip through pictures, play or interact with games and applications specifically designed for such a device. All of the things the majority of the netbook users are doing can be done... just in a different and more comfortable fashion. Sure, they won't be typing emails (as easily or quickly) or posting messages. But maybe they have better, more fun things to do. perhaps they're saving that type of crap for when they're home sitting uncomfortably on their home PC.
In short... don't analyze based on a spec sheet. It's all about the user experience. Just like with cars. Back in 03 when I bought my MSP, the WRX was technically faster in a straight line. More than a few publications stated as much but also stated that the MSP 'felt' faster. They were right. For that reason, and many others, I ended up getting an MSP. If I had strictly went by what some #s said on a spec sheet I might've gotten a WRX. In that alternate universe, this post would've never been written and you all would have lost out on my rambling. So... yeah. iPad FTW
i'm sorry, but i have two vilivs in my household now, and the touchscreen experience is far from "dreadful". use one and come talk to me. you can't say the same about the ipad because, well, i have an iphone and ipod touch and it's the same thing, so i have essentially "used one". no really, it is, please stop shaking your head. so i feel i'm more than qualified at this point to compare the two. and honestly, i still wouldn't ever in a million years buy an ipad.
i could care less about mac OS or iphone OS. i could care less about jailbreaking. you shouldn't have to hack a unit to get features at that price tag. its indefensible, seriously.
i have been using my X70 for over a month now and it consistently impresses me. the on screen keyboard is fast and responsive in all applications. the speed of the unit is more than adequete for surfing the net, watching videos, chatting, video chatting, facebooking, mp3 playing, piggyback tuning. finger touch or stylus use, its spot on and i can do not one but several of those at once. plus its hands down the most accurate GPS device i've ever used.
one of my friends who is a die hard ipad fanboy proclaimed its mass and girth to be too much for him. thats what she said

no seriously, it weighs in within an ounce - an ounce for god's sake - of what the ipad is listed to weigh at. plus, its got a very large solid state drive (larger than the ipad) along side the SD card slot which i presently have a 32GB card plugged into. looks like i'll be swiping through more media comfortably on my couch than an ipad user at less a cost.
the ipad will sell because its an apple product with a multimillion marketing budget. but seriously, don't sit there and tell me there aren't products that do steve jobs' job better when i have a pair of them in my house right now that unquestionably do. before they arrived in my hands the ipad was still an interesting curiosity. putting them to use once they arrived convinced me the ipad was a ripoff. i have had the iphone, ipod touch and mac mini in my possession for years. believe me, if i felt that the "experience" of these windows XP based tablets was any worse than what standards those apple devices set for me, i'd proclaim it so and tell people go buy the ipad in droves. but i can't do that because i'm convinced from experience now.
i'd love to see viliv have the apple marketing machine behind it. they'd sell them by the metric s*** ton if people were able to pick them up and play with them. but thats the crux of the whole matter. its not the experience, or the OS, or the capability, or the lack of capability or even the name that will sell this pile of crap. its the logo on the box and the inundation of advertising it will receive. you're ok with that and so are millions of americans who have more dollars than brains. but you're not going to convince us any more than we are going to convince you because at this point two totally seperate arguments have evolved from the origin argument, making the two non overlapping magesteria.
oh, and microsoft courier is going to eat ipad for lunch anyways
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmIgNfp-MdI