I guess I have a hard time understanding the complaint that you won't get BES data without being tethered to a BB. The tablet doesn't have 3G so you are going to use it simultaneously with a cellphone in order to get phone calls. If you have BES service, then you have a BB. I think BB Connect is gone now, no? And I have a hard time understanding the complaint that the tablet does no more than duplicate the BES data when its tethered. Well, if you are using the tablet for browsing, etc., then you are not going to pull out the BB when you get an email. If RIM won't permit 3rd party messaging clients on the Playbook, then I agree shame on them. But we don't know that yet. Yes, you are paying for some BES/bb functionality with the playbook and a premium for some other things too.