The reason it is so far in advance is for two reasons:
1. It gives me a goal to work towards
2. Students budget... I will be making cutbacks in other areas to make up the $450. ;) Gives me time to appriciate what I am about to get. THanks for the concern though, I will try hard to get this stuff asap.
And thunder, np, it is a relevant question, seeing as how I was looking for an 'OK' for my equipment choice, and if they OK your decision to switch to what I chose, then all the better, right?
