I definitely don't base my life on specs as Vant declared.
However, as you state, I expect to get my money's worth, and I would expect CURRENT MBP buyers to not feel they're getting their money's worth... big difference!
My comparison point was EXACTLY as you stated. The MBP isn't a very good value. If one considers only OS X and customer service as the game changers, one is paying one heck of a gigantic "APPLE TAX!" Think about what the money will buy on the PC side, and Windows 7 is incredible on solid hardware components. I still agree Apple provides a better total experience, but the component makeup differences are currently ridiculous especially for a computer stamped "PRO."
Now going back to my MBA comparison, the MBA provides the entire "experience" I want and is still within reason of spec levels and performance within the ultraportable market. However, if the MBA doesn't get more RAM, it will fall out of relevance within the ultraportable market... OS X isn't a big enough game changer to allow Apple to not update it to at least mid-range of component makeup. In time, the MBA will fall out of relevance if it's not updated... just as I feel the MBP has currently experienced.
I agree OS X is great, but I don't want to buy a high-priced product filled with low-end components... and currently the MBP is exactly that. I love Apple computers, but Apple really needs to do something about its current MBP lineup as they're grossly inferior to competitive computers.