5+ years ago retail desktops used to cost a lot more to purchase, that is why most people would build their own. Today, prices have come down a lot and you can buy a very very good system for $1000 or less. Heck good laptops don't even cost 3 grand these days.

Anyway, it is very easy to build a great system for under $800-1000 bucks as well. You just buy the parts from Newegg, Zipzoomfly, pcAlchemy, Directron, etc... and put it all togethor, no problem.

M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85