Having owned virtually every Apple laptop since the Duo 230c, I believe this shortage is being created by demand, not an artificial manipulation.

It might not be the iPhone, but the MacBook Air is selling much stronger than many of us would have guessed. After a full month of being on the market, the MacBook Air is still a difficult commodity to obtain in some markets…

(Via MacBook Air aflutter: demand stays strong, sold out often.)

Remember, most users consume probably 10% of the capabilities of any modern Intel-based computer.

Graphics professionals, videographers and gamers may push beyond its capabilities, but literally everyone else would be more than satisfied with the Air’s capabilities.

Think about it, 2 gigs a ram, intel processor more powerful than one a mere 2 years ago and enough storage for most normal uses.

I think quality vs. kitchen sink feature list is winning out in this case.