I used an IR thermometer and measured both palm rests, all over the bottom cover and along the speaker grill after 35 minutes of file ops that had the CPU between 91-94*F, so very hot for a very long time. The F temps were barely above body temp and then only on the speaker grill, which I *guess* is an area where the battery is least likely to be affected.
I haven't measured it during normal word processing or spreadsheet use or web browsing, but my CPU temps are 35-37*C doing those, so in "normal" use I really can't imagine a problem.
I would have been the first guy in line to buy a 1080p IPS 11" MBA, I know what you are saying...
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Not really replying to this, but the mention of the tablet reminds me that I have had my iPad Air get warmer to the touch than this rMB.
I really don't think Apple is getting enough credit for the complete re-think that they put into this product, but that's an opinion and you know what they're worth...

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Well, I have bad news for you. Not only have you misjudged the rMB, you're misjudging MBs.
Real MBs always had hard seats. The latter-day pretenders got a DNA swap and aren't in the blood line.