I'd recommend trying out the App switching/Workspace management on Ubuntu 12.04. 'Super'+S gets you all your different workspaces (defaults at 4 but customizable to 64 :D), while 'Super'+W shows all the applications running in a workspace. All that added to good old Ctrl+Tab and yup...comparable experience. SSD performance is the same as that of the Mac and available in 128GB and 256GB. Considering Ubuntu is more lightweight, its understandable that performance is better on it. Try it out for yourself.
It comes with a multitouch touchpad too, and installing synaptic-multitouch-trackpad [google it] gives you the gestures on the famous trackpad. Is it as good, probably not, but does it significantly improve the UX when used....very.
I don't know about you, but that sound about parallel to me. For $700 less.
Comparable? Considering the Macbook Air ships with a second gen dual-core i5-chip [Zenbook 3rd-gen i7], and an 1440x900 [Zenbook Full-HD (read 1920x1080)], It is more comparable to the lower end MBPs.
Last I checked bloatware was really an issue on most linux distros [Archlinux leaves you with a terminal prompt]. I'd recommend Ubuntu for new users, but as a Mac user you'd feel right at home. When you then take into consideration that performance of Wine (the free, open source Windows emulator available on linux) when running native Windows applications (Including high-graphic-demand games), it's a developer's dream.
Stickers...well there's precious little anyone can do about that.
What would you say about a zenbook prime UX32 [11.6in 1080p] sporting a noob friendly Linux distro [Ubuntu/Mint]. Similar (possibly better) performance, aluminium body, lighter form factor, bleeding edge OS, access to most developer tools available on the OSX (bar textmate and xcode). Pricetag - $1300.
The mind can justify whatever it wants...its called human nature
I don't know about you, but that sound about parallel to me. For $700 less.