Well.. is not just only about performance... Developers used to said me that ATIs are much better for developing and apps take more advantatges running over ATIs rather than nVidias. Two developers of the Apple Motion Team (which is an App that uses intensively the Graphics Card) told me that, and many others as well it's a quite "popular" fact.

If you stuck only at the technical spects.. Gforce is MUCH better than the Radeon... but, as you know.. is not all about the spects... and I do not believe them unless I try or someone (non partial) with the same needs as I test it.

About the stickers and "fires" obviously I don't pay so much attention since boards are inside the Comp... but I have to tell you that for me that "Gaming teenager look" makes me a little bit unconfident about products that seems to be more designed for gaming purposes rather than professional apps.