Computers - R600... AMDs latest lemon

Excuse me for being rude in the title, but do I have any other choice?
No, history always returns and after the total failure of the X1k launch one and a half years ago (X1800 XT not faster than the 1/2 year old 7800 GTX and soundly beaten by 7800 GTX 512), AMDs graphics divison, formerly known as ATi, noticed that they forgot to release their latest R600 GPU core.

In fact, they did not forget that, they just could not finish their work quickly enough. You may think that, needing so long, they must have a real nice product now. You may have thought just like that, but reality is back up and running.
We got to see 2900 XTX numbers one or two weeks ago and we understood that R600 may not have gotten enough spinach during its development.
Now, after the official 2900 XT launch we fully understand why AMD was so quiet about the R600: This GPU is just incapable of competing with G80. I thought the 2900 XT might have a place in the GPU market, but now I only see that I was wrong, very wrong.

Let me summarize:
The 2900 XT competes with the $150-cheaper-8800-GTS-320MB and may be able to compete with the 8800 GTS that is $50 cheaper when drivers are tuned for the R600.
The 2900 XT makes the 8800 GTX a "Greenpeace´s Choice" by consuming 60W more at load and 15W more in idle (remember that GeForce 8 cards do not like 2D power saving modes).
The 2900 XT establishes nVidia´s $300+ absolute monopoly: super high prices for G80 cards.

The R600 is perfectly in line with the upcoming failure of K8L which may look attractive from an AMD standpoint but simply will lack the steam to take any lead.
If want to do yourself a favor: Do not buy this card. Go for the Smarter Choice, GeForce 8 =)