Windows on Mac: Does Less = More?

When the Intel Macs first came out, I jumped right at the download for the new Parallels software that allowed me to run Windows alongside Mac programs without rebooting out of OSX.  I ended up buying two (maybe 3) licenses and running it on a couple of Macs.  For the most part, Parallels works great if you need to run the occasional Windows program.  VMWare got into the game a little later than Parallels with VMWare Fusion, but a lot of people seem to prefer VMWare's program over Parallels.  

I still run Parallels on the office iMac, but earlier this week, I made the decision to run an erase and install of OSX. In the process, I decided that my MacBook Air was getting a Boot Camp partition.  I installed a fresh new license of Windows XP (maybe the last license for that software I'll ever buy).  I also installed Microsoft Office 2007 and QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition 2008.  

Part of why I decided to go Boot Camp is that I was beginning to long for a "real Windows computer" not a Mac running Parallels.  While Parallels works fine, I was beginning to think it wasn't as "snappy" as it used to be.  (I love it when people describe their software as "snappy").  More importantly, the longer I use the Mac, my thoughts are evolving on how I want Windows to be deployed on my Macs.  There is clearly software that I need for business that doesn't have a Mac counterpart (particularly tax return preparation software and tax depreciation software).  But, whereas Windows was once something I wanted up front and center when I used my Mac, it's becoming more like the plumber's helper (or bathroom plunger). It's important to have one in case you need it, but you don't display it prominently in your house.  

Boot Camp is nice in that it is "wicked fast" and it makes your Mac into a "real Windows computer" when you need one, but when you aren't using it, it's hidden away and not bothering anybody.  Is it just me, or are your thoughts about running Windows on a Mac changing too? Please leave a comment but let's not start a flame war about which OS is better.