Honestly, I can build a computer from scratch as long as I have all the parts in less than 30 minutes. Depending on how I configure the HD's I can even install the OS in that time. That's not alot of time when it comes down to it, especially with the savings you can get.
I've built probably 140 computers in the past 5 years, selling them to friends of mine (And friends of theirs via word of mouth) who want a killer gaming machine, but don't want to spend $3k to Dell or whoever for a top of the line machine and don't care to put one together. I don't charge them double like the big manufacturers do. I just added about $200 total to the cost it was for me to build it and get the parts so it was somewhat worth my time. Every single time it still beat comparable manufacturers machines at a significant savings.
Not to mention the 70 HTPC's that I have built as well.
Honestly, it's less expensive and you get higher quality parts in your machine buy building it yourself.
Dell and the big companies will save even more money not just from buying parts in bulk, but also by using a crappy video card, a poor quality motherboard, cheap Powersupply's, etc. Things that will affect your computer quite a bit. Keep in mind, they are saving themselves money, not you.
My pokemon brings all the nerds to the yard. And they're like, "You wanna trade cards?" Damn right, I wanna trade cards. I'll trade this, but not my charizard.
