My point was that if they consider their installation service something that makes their product "ready and usable," then it should not be an optional charge.

My point was that if they consider their installation service something that makes their product "ready and usable," then it should not be an optional charge. (And in the end, isn't it just choosing a different disk image in their configuration system? Hardly a 'service.') I would want Dell to sell me a computer that they would be happy and proud to use themselves. Not try to fill up my shopping cart with optional extras, deals, and crap.