You are staring to sound like Jimmy Carter!:D

I am actually more concerned with larger hard drives and RAM. I am aware that clock speeds don't show much speed advantage per se.

I would like to see eSATA ports added, and non-gloss screens still being an option.

Glossy is now standard???

That's a drag out here, but I imagine a screen protector will fix it for me. Added expense, though. :(

As much as I'd love to see a speed bump, I don't there's much of a point in waiting for it. Wait til Leopard comes out, and if there isn't an announcement at the same time, then just bite the bullet and pick it up then if that's what you're waiting for.

If you keep waiting for the next best thing to come out, then you'll never buy anything 'cause there's always something on the horizon.

That's my way of thinking at least; thus the reason I'm snagging a MBP (my first mac) as soon as Leopard is released.

You are doig the right thing, investigating before buying it.

I always check this before buying:
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

I hope it helps you to decide.

My personal opinion is to wait for Leopard.

I'm hoping by Macworld January. Leopard will be out, so it will be free with new MBP. And it's a new year, so I can put it in next year's business deductions...

FYI, I bought my current Powerbook after Panther came out, but it was manufactured before Panther was pre-installed on the machines, so at no extra cost, Apple put the Panther disks in the box for the customer to install.

The MacBook is glossy only...
In its last iteration, the iMac became glossy only...
...so that’s why I fear the option of an antiglare screen perhaps disappearing on a new MacBook Pro.

From Apple's MBP profile:

"MacBook Pro offers an antiglare widescreen display that’s perfect for color-minded professionals. For a more immersive viewing experience, you can configure the MacBook Pro display with a glossy finish. This gives everything you see a richer, more saturated feel."