I was in the same exact boat and had the near same exact experience around that same timeframe. I did buy another one after the AMD buyout, around 2009 with a R

I was in the same exact boat and had the near same exact experience around that same timeframe. I did buy another one after the AMD buyout, around 2009 with a Radeon 5870 and it has been a really great card. I'm still using it today in this machine. The OGL support still lacks but not nearly as bad as '03. That said, the ghost of ATI still haunts AMD. To buy from them next time I'll have to get a great price or they'll have to be way ahead of Nvidia which they were in 09 with the 5870.