Seriously...can't Intel just physically sever or disable the iGPU? They used to do similar things to help them increase yields. 80486SX=80486DX with defective FPU, for example. Maybe Apple will be getting the Arrandale cores with defective GPUs...
The Arrandale iGPU isn't even on the same die as the CPU !!!
There are two dies inside the Arrandale packages. One has the CPU cores/Memory controller (and most likely PCI-e link management). Most likely connected to the Graphics die with QPI link that can't "see" because inside the package to the CPU die. The CPU is the new .28 process and the GPU die is the older .45.
It is one chip package with two dies in it. And no ..... Intel isn't going sell you one without the other die inside. No cheaper version. The next iteration those two will likely collapse onto same die. That's why just want folks to adjust to it now.
You cut some thermal dissipation by turning off the iGPU (perhaps) but still going to be there.
The issue is what is "good enough". if not particularly interested in high end 3D graphics. The Arrandale iGPU does OpenGL 2.1 , hardware video decode , and is about 60-70% of the 9400M. If have games/CAD/etc. that needs OpenGL 3 then would be screwed unless Apple goes with AMD/ATI. If used the laptop and only pushed the 9400 to 60-70% then this will do just fine in the discretess version and perhaps get better battery life.
Will the entry level models be "future proof" ? Probably not. 4-5 years from now probably won't be 100% happy. However, 4-5 years there will be something that blows away the rest of the machine, not just the iGPU.
As for being a professional or not ... that is more so indicative of whether you business activities pay for the machine or not. Someone could be a software developer, doctor, etc. and not push the 3D graphics to the wall. In fact, almost all 3D benchmarks are driven by games. Games are not indicative of someone who is using the laptop in a professional capacity unless a games developer or gaming professional .... which are narrow subclasses Apple isn't going to build a machine for.
The Apple "+ Discrete" versions are usually only $200-300 more. If your productivity over 2 years doesn't improve to justify that kind of price increase.... questionable whether it is "professional" output is truely the driver of crying about intel iGPU performance. The productivity jump is only higher if the gap is bigger between the discrete and iGPU.