It frequently feels like AMD launch at a price to get the AMD whales, and then put it down to what it should be a bit later. The damage is done in the initial reviews though. If I'm going to be spending nearly as much as the competing Nvidia card, then I'd probably just wait and buy one...
At the ultra high-end, there's no other choice but to buy Nvidia.
For lowly peasants like me, it'll always be what's best value, which was Intel this time round. Next round, I guess it'll be who flinches first on the price drops.