So the kind that needs personal hassle?

I'll pass, I'm a professional in another field, not a PC mechanic.

That's fine until you take your Pro back to apple and they don't have your configuration available and you have to wait 3 weeks for a replacement (this does happen a lot with non standard apple build to order devices). Even worse with an XServe I inherited: they couldn't replace it in warranty. Ended up with a supermicro 1U with debian on it in under 24 hours from buy to install.

My HP: redundant PSU, disks, next day service for all parts or replacement unit.

No competition. I can't afford the downtime.

Visiting an Apple store to have a part replaced is free if your time is worth nothing.

Or you know, I can send it and get it back. What kind of professional doesn't have a backup machine or two?

Heck, a professional of the kind that needs a Mac Pro can also afford an assistant to take to the Apple store...

Nor it's like checking the damage on my home-built PC, tinkering, ordering parts and replacing them will take me less time...

Depends on your definition of better.

Upgradeable, replaceable parts, redundancy, better storage options, cheaper, doesn't accidentally get trash put in the top. And that's just the case.

I have nothing but contempt for the Mac Pro design - it's style over substance to the extreme.

And I like it's style, and Windows won't cut it, so for me the trade offs are okay :)

Hence, depends on your definition of better. Computers are trade offs. Always have been. Your choice of trade offs is not inherently better than someone else's.

(this is academic, btw, I'm not getting any of the computers in question)

All computers are trade offs but when you start trading sensible things for appearance then it's just idiocy.

It's the Ugg boot of computers. Looks pretty and keeps your feet warm but you can't get it wet and it isn't waterproof, they fuck up your feet and fall to bits.

I'd rather have a pair of Berghaus explorers, warm and dry feet and for them to still be on one piece after a 20 mile hike (HP Z820).

Don't really care about the OS - you can get where you need to with virtualization.

I disagree, but I think I'll leave it at that, as I'm obviously not explaining my point well enough...

better as in not needing separate power supplies and cases to have reasonable storage options. better is not needing to buy a new machine (I know, not confirmed but they never aren't offering) to upgrade components. better is having a user upgradeable storage (the ssd is not user upgradable even with tricks according to some).

While it certainly is an interesting case, stylish for some, its pure form over function. They have essentially made a Mac Pro Mini / Mac Pro iPad ... as in what you bought it what your stuck with. Want to upgrade to a new processor or newer video card, well buy a newer machine.

My question is related to the actual rounded case. Is something like it available for the PC market? I'm tired of the standard boxy-looking case on my robotics workstation.

No. The PC is a modular standardised architecture. There are no COTS components that would fit in such a case. This is by design. Apple forked their own design.

Ok, thanks for clearing that up. I'm gonna have to build my own case then. :)