I do not make money using my laptop, but do some web work once and awhile.
I feel like the 512 ssd would be plenty or even the 256 if I did not load windows. I could put windows on the iMac.
It all boils down to how much the money means to you, considering that you made this thread it probably has some value regardless of how much of it you have.
I don't make money off any sort of professional computer work either but can depreciate one off every so many years for my business (2.8 octo pro was the last one, its still a fantastic machine only just now caught up to on the consumer end.). I'm also an honorary jew in terms of cheapness. Which is why in my mind going over $2k for a machine that would do all the same things as the base model made no sense. Could have bought whatever model, but why? Do you feel the need to wave the perception of your success in the faces of strangers on the internet?
Since your username is not that of the car you drive, and you don't have every bit of apple tech you own going back to when apple became cool again listed in your signature i'm going to guess the answer is no.
For ***** and giggles i just opened things till i got a page out. Parellels running xp, mail, safari, itunes playing an hd movie, app store, pages, keynote, numbers, aperture, netgear router app, activity monitor, chrome, 2 instances of screensharing. Page out now says about 550mb.
Thats fine for me on a supposedly low end, not adequate base model. Not once was there any hiccup or stutter. I'm not a professional video/photo/adminstrator/whatever.
Just keep in mind the higher end the technology the faster it depreciates. Saving even 500 now will be 25% of a new model that will be better in every way in a couple years.