Just talked with one local reseller, and checked on the website of another. They’re both asking $200 more for a 15 in G4 TiPB with the 1.5GHz processor, as compared to Apple.com with a 1.67GHz. The person I talked to was a bit snippy, too; yeah, that makes me want to spend an extra $200 for an older machine.
So, what am I getting from a reseller that’s worth my extra cost? I understand the OP’s issues with how Apple treats its resellers, but frankly this is (in near-term) a one-time outlay for me. I just don’t think I can justify the additional cost here.