The mark up is a non issue. I have been saying this since day one. Of course they will be commanding far more than the MSRP at their release. All highly anticipated cars do. The original C5 Z06 sold for $100k when first released. Even the original Miata all the way back in 1989 sold for $25k. That was almost $7k more than MSRP. Like all of these examples, it will take a year or so for the price to level off. That is when a fair comparison can be made.
Any talk of "I can make X car do X for less" will need to wait till then. There is always someone, somewhere, that can make a cheaper faster car. But again they are not new, off the showroom floor production cars with warranty either. The comparisons coming out in the mags now are the only ones that are at all fair. Factory equipped cars in competition.
What I find interesting is the persistant comment all of the reviews have made. That the weight of the GT-R is not the factor all of the critics said it would be. Technology has made another leap, and while not able to break the laws of physics, it has found a way to bend them, heavily. I understand why there is such surprise. We have all been raised with the idea that there is no replacement for light weight. Well, just like the old addage "there's no replacement for displacement" has fallen by the wayside with forced induction, we find that there is indeed a replacement for light weight. And it's called ATTESA.
As for the power numbers, again I find it a bit funny. Every GT-R has had it's numbers watered down. This goes all the way back to the PGC10 in '69. The '89 R32 was labeled with 287hp. The reality was closer the 330. It was no surprise that they dyno'd with higher numbers. But let's not pretend that this is why the car is so fast around the track. Even at 550hp, the GT-R has a lower power to weight ratio than the 911 or Z06. The power helps, no doubt, but it's the superb balance and awesome traction that smokes the competition.
As for the looks, it's subjective. There is no argument that the 911 is gorgeous. Pretty much has been all it's life. Until the GT-R is seen in person you can't make an informed choice. It is so unique that no pictures really do it justice. I can't explain it. For that matter neither can any of the reviewers who say the same thing. In person the car just works. But if looks are what will solely dictate how I spend $120k, it would not be on a Porsche either. The best looking car(s) on the road right now are the M3, Exige, and G37. But none of them can touch a 911, or a GT-R for that matter. It comes down to what is more important I guess.
Brian