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			OK, I'm convinced.  After doing further reading, and on the recommendations here, I decided to go for the Red Hat Network.  I'm downloading the ISOs even as we speak.  (This is also partially a work project so I can justify doing some exploration!)
 Oh and one thing that really pushed me over the edge was the Windows licensing structure.  I've never bought a "new" copy of Windows before.  I can't believe the price!  $250 and they aren't even offering any academic discounts.  They're definitely in bed with the manufacturers, because it's clear they're doing everything they can to discourage "build-your-own" hobbyists from getting lefit copies.
 
 Ah, well.. it's academic for a couple weeks it looks like... the place I ordered my stuff from is not shipping it till next week apparently.  ("Backed up for the 4th of July", they said.  I'm not even going to ask how a one-day holiday backed them up a week.  Yeah, I know, I was taking a risk.)
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