Whilst higher specs do cost more, but for it to be 3.5 times more expensive simply can't be justified. 32bit versions of Windows don't support more than 4GB and can virtually can't use over 3GB, so having the ability to have 8GB of RAM (not physically installed that would be extra), is of little use unless using a 64bit version of windows.
As far as a laptop goes, just how powerful a graphics (option, options, options, again, they cost extra on top of whatever the default) card or chip do you really need to support the 17" screen, it entirely depends on what you intend to use it for, or any such options are meaningless and cash wasted.
Firewire 800 is no deal breaker if you have firewire 400 or even USB2 if you don't have hardware hooked up that requires it, making a copy to external HDD, etc. that little bit quicker, is it worth the extra, just have a leisurely cup of coffee. I have an external HDD that supports eSATA and USB2 I had hoped to get the eSATA working as it is much faster, but even with a eSATA PCI-e card it won't work so USB2 only, but that really isn't any huge hassle when I do my backups to the external HDD. I have Firewire 400 on my PC but the external HDD doesn't support that so in my case firewire 800 would be as much use, none.
Bearing in mind this was sent to Bob as a so called Hot Deal, Pre-Order special, etc. etc. so I shudder to think what it would cost outside of this Hot Deal. I just can't see how this kind of price differential can justified, as this credit crunch bites harder the gap will have to close.