Hi Dee Dee, I'll be happy to stick around, I'm a big geek and a tremendous windbag! And thanks you guys, for the links to the plug-ins!
I found your posts to be extremely enlightening, especially about cost. This is something that is frequently brought up when comparing Macs and PCs. You're right when you point out that you're getting a one-platform machine when you get a PC. For me, this would never be enough.
Some Mac users don't want to use Windows, so they'll save their disk space and never install VMWare or Bootcamp. Some Windows users don't want to use Mac OS, so they'll stick with PCs. Both are viable choices. But for me, it's got to be both. And if I pay a little more for that, then it's money (my money! ) well spent. I'm getting what I want; I'm getting what I'm paying for, and I'm happy!
As far as Premiere vs. Final Cut Express–I probably sound like I'm being really hard on Premiere Elements . . . well in a way I am, but in a way not. Okay, I admit to being bitter about having to uninstall Premiere Elements 4 and reinstall 3. That is completely unacceptable. (I would think it was just me or something I did, but the reviews on Amazon.com tell me otherwise. ) So, yes, I'm bitter. But when I get past that, the fact is that Premiere Elements has a lot going for it and I find it to combine ease-of-use and robustness for a low price. (I admit it, I also might prefer it in part because it's not dissimilar to Final Cut Express.)
Comparing Premiere Elements to another consumer favorite–Sony Vegas Movie Studio–I definitely prefer Premiere Elements. Vegas Movie Studio only has 4 video tracks. I can frequently go through that many and more, and Elements allows me to do so. Vegas has a funky interface–Premiere's is more traditional and familiar (and not just for Mac users, but for Windows users as well). So, a big thumbs up for Premiere when stacked up against other consumer level Windows software. (Well, except for that it doesn't always WORK! ) But when Adobe gets Premiere 4 patched up and working fine, then big thumbs up.
Dee Dee, yes, I do think it's also a matter of what you're used to. I don't begrudge you missing Premiere Elements, but speaking as someone who is working from the opposite direction, I think there's enough happy similarities between both programs, that you'll adjust in time. I find that the more time I spend with Elements, the easier it becomes for me. But since Final Cut Express is a more expensive program, it makes sense that it has more goodies–and it clearly does.