well - this is 1.st generation upgraide that in price/preformance sux to previos one!
I mean every strongest single GPU from AMD did cost around 350$ (since hd 2xxx) and every new generation left previos one preformance in smoke - the price preformance was real jump and real reason to celebrate new generation! for this one - obviously not the case. I mean would you care and be pleased in 2010. december about new(that time) hd6970 wich would somke hd 5870, beat gtx 480 and costed more than gtx 480 - NO, that would SUCK!!!! (
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6970/)
then why now are you (moust of you) celebrating this price/preformance regress???
you whant this to happen to every new generation? well - if this would be like that then now hd 7970 should cost x4 times hd 4870 and that would be >1000$ and if it would start from hd 2xxx then ... - I would not be playing/paying PC anymore!