People keep telling you to just stay away from Lion or even from a Mac if you're not happy.
But I totally understand what your intentions are. I remember the time when installing a new OS X version was like giving new life to an old Mac. Actually, going from Leopard to SL was an amazing experience. I remember seeing my Mac perform a lot faster and as a bonus, SL gave me some GB back.
So buying an old used Mac and installing the very last OS X available used to be a great idea. Apparently, many of the people who have replied to your thread don't know this or have an unlimited flow of cash to spend on new hardware (and software).
I'll try to be a better citizen with your concerns:
- I can only download Mac OS Lion
This seems to be the case for the time being. As it has been "kindly" explained by other macrumors members, Lion will be available later on physical support.
I have an unlimited fast connexion, so no worries from this side, but I can definitely understand your concern. I think some people on this forum have never heard of download caps or slow Internet speeds.
- I need Show Leopard in order to upgrade because that's the only other OS with the app store functionality required to download Lion
Again, that's the case, at least for now.
- If I don't have Snow Leopard, I must purchase and install it in order to upgrade to Lion
Not really, provided that you have a friend with a Mac and Snow Leopard. You may login to your account and buy a copy of Lion. Then copy to a pendrive and use it to install Lion.
I heard about people going to an Apple Store and downloading the installer from there. I don't know if the stories are true.
- They've eliminated Front Row so as to make Apple TV more enticing
I never actually liked Front Row and I probably used it 2 or 3 times and then forgot about it. I started using Plex a long time ago and then switched to XBMC. These are very sophisticated programs, far more powerful than Front Row.
On the other hand, again, I understand your concern, especially if your mother will be using this computer. Thera are lots of macs in my family and I am the only one "savvy" enough to deal with any of those softwares. They require some work, when Front Row works out of the box and integrates seamlessly with iTunes.
Also, I don't think Plex or XBMC or Boxee can play DRMed videos bought through iTunes.
- They've also eliminated Rosetta meaning my more than capable copy of MS Office 2004 must be upgraded to the whatever bloated piece junk M$ is now selling.
Again, I do not have this problem since my University payed for Office 2011 when it came out. But I see exactly what you mean. I don't actually do anything more or better with Office 2011 than I used to do with older versions. The FINAL PRODUCT produced by these softwares is still the same. Word, Excel and PPT documents. And I bet none of these friendly posters on this thread will be willing to help you pay the $150 for a student license or the $280 for the business license.
People may say what they want about "progress" and all but being an engineer myself, I would like to know a
TECHNICAL reason behind the exclusion of Rosetta.
Lion's own dictionary defines progress as "forward or onward movement towards a destination". I really don't see where the definition of progress involves that you need to stop using your regular tools to attain your goal. Rosetta could have been provided as an optional download, as it was the case for SL. This would result in no harm at all to all of you so "advanced" users that claim that you need to buy every new version of software that comes out to be able to continue working and to produce "progress".
- Blu-ray is still a "big bag of hurt"
I'm with you on this one too. I have a Mac mini connected to my HD TV and I really wish it supported Blu-ray. Instead, I had to buy a separate player from panasonic.
Am I the only one fed up with Apple and all of their dumb decisions? Is there something I have missed? Is this all just one big misunderstanding on my part? Seriously, if there are alternatives I'm simply unaware of, please me know.
I'm not exactly "fed up" and I'm sure that these people at Apple know exactly what they're doing. They may seem dumb decisions for people like you and me but they make a lot of sense from the point of view of market penetration and profit.
What you call "alternatives" may come in the form of additional third-party software. Some of it (maybe all) carry free licenses.
As a matter of fact, I happen to like Lion. I got used to the new "features" quite fast and as opposed to many people on this forum, I kind of like Mission Control (some call it Mission Impossible) even though I was a heavy Spaces and Exposé user.
Fortunately I haven't had any of the problems that other people are having but I will certainly not bash them because they ask questions about them or report them here. Making those concerns public is the only way for some people to learn how to deal with change or to eventually produce changes to improve software.
And by the way, complaining about the things that you don't like, letting other people know about the problems and discussing whatever negative thing that may be a part of a new OS is what eventually leads to improvements and yes my friends... it also leads to
progress.
Cheers !
TV2 > plugging my MBP into the TV > 
