Nobody pays full price for their cellphone. The purchase of a cellphone is subsidized by the carrier. If a subsidized netbook can be used to sell WiFi service along a the quad venti low-foam latte and a pastry or two- why not? I look forward to the day when Quantum strikes a deal to manufacture co-branded netbooks with SBUX, MCD or GOOG.

The netbook genie is out of the bottle. Look out Kindle! Au revoir over-spec’d laptop!

Once again, a spot on analysis. Not only this, but the “bundling” of these devices with data plans will cause even more of a price shock. When one can get a netbook for $99-199 with persistent network connection it will be hard to convince consumers of spending even $500 and so cause an even bigger problem for retailers and all concerned. Still, like you I think this is moth to the flame.
By Fall, with dual core Atoms, Nvidia Ion graphics, and better styling why not buy a netbook? As well, with these prices, I can anticipate corporate buyers outfitting sales and other field forces with them since they are expensable and disposable.
I am concerned about how any company will be able to manage in the environment which then requires bundling services and attachments to make any money. While it is clear that the largest can do it, it is as you comment not clear for how long. Smaller companies that cannot get subsidies or partners may not get into the game, and so how does innovation and profit come along.