The Xbox 360 is around US$250 now and the new edition coming out will have the higher tag (~$350 IIRC) The main difference is the new units have direct hi-def connecitons as opposed to hd component plugs.
And yes, Live is worth it. I go through cycles where I play a lot, and then cycles where I don't. But when you consider that having Live is about like spending money for 3 dvd rentals in a month. And when gaming regularly, I spend more time gaming online than watching dvd's....
“Liberalism is totalitarianism with a human face” - Thomas Sowell
“What "multiculturalism" boils down to is that you can praise any culture in the world except Western culture - and you cannot blame any culture in the world except Western culture” - Thomas Sowell