I've noticed that you guys aren't so keen on using DVD drives since their relevance is going down, yet you still recommend the cheapest ODDs you can get, which is still going to be mostly unused funds every time you build a new rig.
So, I devised a compromise: instead of an internal for every machine, why not use a shared external drive between machines? After you install the drivers for mobo and the like (OS not withstanding, since those can be installed via USB), you can easily pair it with a netbook for digital media on the go, for those that have huge DVD collections yet cannot spare the space to burn them. Sure, the speed may not be something to pine over, but for most tasks I assume it would be appropriate. The consumer may then choose if he wants something like an internal Blu-ray drive down the line if he chooses, and for joe-schmoe that builds PCs for a living he could save $15-20 for each rig after the first.