Interesting, helpful thread.
Chuckled a bit over this:
iPad 2 is still a great device. What I will say after using the 3rd gen for a while trying to look at an iPad 2 screen is like looking at it through a sieve, but if it's what you're used to it's still a great screen.
A "sieve"?

Pray tell! Any side-by-side comparison I've done have shown lil dif... and I've even had sales people and customers gather round & they've have failed to see any screen difference! And that's true even with hi-res video and NY Times text blown up a fair amount. Blown up a crazy amount, then yes there's a difference, but that's hardly a test of normal use.
As we were doing the comparisons, people were flabbergasted at the lack of difference.
OTOH, I believe you. I used to be able to read the text in iPhone apps that displayed at 2x on the iPad, but now they are just miserably jagged and hard on the eyes!
I'm in the same boat as the OP... I had ruled out the iPad refurb because Apple was selling only 16gb ones... however, now they offer 32gb for only $400.
So, it really is a 50% premium to go iPad 3...
and there are negatives: longer charging time, poor display of older apps, running hotter, etc.
--------------------------------------------------
Does any one know if Apple Care Plus is available on a refurb? Or if a Square Trade warranty is?
That could be the deciding factor as I'd like protection from accidental drops!