Yes, Blade, I think a lot of people would make good use of Mindstorms. It's a bummer they're so expensive. However, you can get your hands on one if you join/mentor/host an FLL team. Sure, you wouldn't get to keep the set, but you'd get to check it out. ;-) Have you heard of
FLL?
I bought the Mindstorms Education set, which I'm still not sure how it is different for NXT 2.0. I know Education is missing the color sensor, but comes with a rechargeable battery. NXT 2.0 has treads and that awesome ball shooter thing, while Education doesn't. I don't have the NXT 2.0 part list, so I can't compare.
I also bought a NXT 1 from a neighbor when they were moving. Their kid wasn't interested anymore. It is missing two sensors but has nearly all the other parts, with a couple dozen other parts thrown in. It was worth it for the price I paid. The NXT 1 is awesome because it contains eleven of the 15 long Technic Beams. I'm still not sure what the Mindstorms team was thinking only including 4 of them in the Education set (and only 2 in NXT 2.0?). If I were to have a choice to buy either an NXT 1 or Mindstorms Education, I would buy NXT 1, assuming they are the same price. Actually, I think I would pay extra for NXT 1, but I don't think it is sold anymore (besides on ebay). I have found that the rechargeable battery was worth it, so I would perhaps have to buy that is I bought NXT 1. Owning NXT Education and part of NXT 1, all I am disappointed about is that I don't have the color sensor or treads.
