Stump the Apple Store associates

Last night I picked up a new 12" ibook from the SoHo Apple Store, where I was helped by a nice guy, who looked remarkably like me, named Kody. He helped me find what I was looking for in the less than efficient floor plan (the layout is a bit like a grocery store without aisle numbers or signs). It goes without saying that he tried to sell me the extended Apple Care plan. Just for the record, I am wholeheartedly in favor of extended Apple Care. It's a risky investment, but Apple has a history of hardware issues, especially on laptops: crumbling cases, dying power supplies and connectors, hard drives prone to early deaths, cracked logic boards, and the occasional spontaneous combustion. You've heard the stories, and Apple Care is less than parts and labor. This time, though, I didn't want it. There are some upgrades I know I want to do myself, starting with yanking out the tiny 40G hard drive. So the conversation went something like this:

Him: "So you'll want the extended Apple Care with that, then."
Me: "Not today"
Him: "[insert list of advantages]"
Me: "I know, I usually get it, but it really won't do me any good this time; I'll probably void the warranty within the first six months."
Him: "Excuse me?"
Me: "I know I'm going to crack the case open at some point. To replace the hard drive, maybe put in a super drive. I'll void the warranty."
Him: "errm...uh...you know, that's a really good answer. I usually have a response ready for people, but that's...well, that makes sense [scratches Apple Care off the order]."

The rest of the experience was not so pleasant. The place was crowded, the staff was very nice but harried and confused, and I somehow ended up without the additional RAM that was supposed to be installed. Fortunately I wasn't charged for it, either, so I'll just go someplace else, get it cheaper, and install it myself. In some regards, they did me a favor, but that's not the point. I think I'll be going back to the Westchester store in the future.