Not wanting to bring up the aluminum iMac 20" controversy, but Apple has done this before, hasn't it? I checked my screen out next to a friends 2.4 white book he bought last Christmas, and the new one is heads and tails better than the previous.
The sleight of hand is Apple dressing the macbook up in clothes identical to its big brother and stating and/or implying that the screens are identical except in size when they are not. The difference in contrast ratios between the two are noticeable. Even if they stated in the MBP ads "with premium or exceptionally high quality LED screen", I think they would be covered.
Except for the narrow viewing angle and the problem it has with contrasting dark colors, it is a great screen. If apple would say up front that the MBP screen is a better screen, it would have squelched this discussion. Trouble is, I've had people working at the apple store tell me that they're identical except in size when they are not.