not really...

Remember the premium $400 x360 already has headset and a remote control (a stripped down universal remote, but a remote nonetheless). That in mind, no one would buy the premuim and an EXTRA remote. THe valid extras are the 3 games and charge kit. Likewise the extra controller. THe 12 month thing you might also get if you're not on live already. If so, you probably wouldn't buy the one live package w/headet, since you have one already...you'd buy the 50 dollar 12 month card alone.

xbox 360- 400
PGR3- 50
kameo- 50
madden -60
extra controller- 50
12 months live -50
play and charge -20

total 680

True, if you add everything you get your 729.92. But i just dont see anyone buying that remote control separately when the premum already has one. Yeah, you save if you were planning to buy the surperflous stuff...but no one would normally buy the supeflous stuff. also figure tax vs. shipping, as you noted.

Myself, i'll just wait to find it at a px. tax alone is some major cake in this equation. I got my ps2 waaay back when, remember the craze for that? Bigger than for the 360, since the shortage was a major flub. Found a stack (disappeadred in minutes, though) a week or so after thankgiving at the LA air force base. sales tax sucks.