I guess to each his own, replicant.
When it can be as simple as making the camera a USB drive on the system (like Olympus does it), I find the Canon solution (TWAIN driver, two pieces of software, plus other junk) unnecessarily cumbersome.
Oh, and AA batteries are the shiznit. No proprietary batteries to buy, EVER - as iPOD owners can attest to, rechargeable batteries eventually wear out. If they're AA's, you just get a new set at your local Kmart/Walmart/etc. (NiMH rechargeables, of course - I can fill my 256 MB CF card a couple times on one charge) And if I ever get caught without my spare set and my batteries die, I can slap some plain old alkalines in there as a temporary solution.
They do add to the bulk a bit, but the A-40 still fits in my jacket or jeans pocket.
BB