yes.
i work for an apple reseller, and the reasons they lifted the price are:
1. Desktop computers come with on site service for three years,
2. Notebooks come with three year international warranty,
3. A couple of extra features, such as member only forums and such and such.
Personally one were buying a mac - GET APPLECARE. Man, if one more customer drops their jaw at the sight of a $800 repair bill on a CRT iMac only worth $1000, I will cry.
"Did you get AppleCare?"
"No."
"Well, tough titties."