Maybe I'm cynical, but paying $80 for 3 years of coverage is a no-brainer for me. I mean, heck, my battery died after 2 years of usage and they replaced it for

Maybe I'm cynical, but paying $80 for 3 years of coverage is a no-brainer for me. I mean, heck, my battery died after 2 years of usage and they replaced it for free. As a result, I've already "made" $20 off of it, and that's without any major repairs (which I've definitely had them do under AppleCare before). Of course, my machine and maybe my TV ($50 for 3 years) are the only warranties I've purchased. I think I agree with your philosophy, but I don't think that's ever stopped me from buying a warranty on nearly anything.