I think part of the problem here is the attitude too many people (including some posters here) have about AppleCare.
If you think of AppleCare as a "bet" that pits you against Apple, then of course you're not going to want to spend the money. You'll probably "lose the bet," since your machine will probably NOT have a serious manufacturing defect.
If, on the other hand, you think of AppleCare as an insurance policy, that what you're buying is peace of mind (and extra goodwill from the manufacturer), then suddenly an extra $100-200 doesn't look so bad, $300+ maybe looks a little pricey, but I've not yet had a situation where I had to pay "full retail" for Applecare at that level. Bargain hunting can be your friend.