What exactly is "half-baked" about it?
Mainly the fact that Apple doesn't support a 64-bit kernel on all systems with x64 CPUs.
That means that you can run Windows 7 x64 on Apples that will not run the Apple 64-bit kernel.
That's "half-baked"....
This avoids the massive trauma that Windows users face when moving from 32 to 64 bit.
This statement is "massive drama".
When Windows users buy a new system, it comes with Windows x64 and they go with it. If they have old peripherals, they'll need to find drivers and perhaps update their printer or scanner. Ever notice that printers are often bundled with new systems? Ever wonder about what percentage of people have a big investment in PCI cards?
More than half the Vista systems selling today are x64, and the ratio for Windows 7 is expected to be overwhelmingly x64. (This excludes netbooks/nettops with x86-only Atoms....)
Windows is executing a great strategy for the x86->x64 migration. Most people with Windows x64 systems don't even realize that they've made the jump.
Mac users simply upgrade to the latest OS in place and everything works. Now which approach is half-baked?
And then someone logs into the guest account, and all their data is gone.
It's going to take at least 5 years before the majority of Windows users are running 64 bit systems and who knows how long before the number of 32 bit users is small enough that app and driver developers can stop supporting them.
A majority of new Windows systems are already x64.
And, applications do not have to be changed for x64. Windows x64 supports x86 applications completely.
Only drivers have to be x64, JUST LIKE OSX x64.
In any event, whether is due to 64-bit or the new OS or whatever - the chances that you'll find a new driver for that $99 printer or scanner that you bought 6 years ago are slim. None of these vendors have "perpetual upgrade support" in their EULA, nor in their business plans.
Look at Apple - not supporting PowerPC systems in 10.6 that are still under AppleCare.