Mike, I'm also trying to find an excuse to buy the latest shiny new toy, but unlike you, I can't come up with any.
Although I'm quite sure that Apple will sell a boatload of them to other people, I don't see anything about the iPad that makes it compelling as "the ultimate Cloud client access device". I see it as a locked "consumption endpoint" for media corporations that want to give you controlled, limited access to overpriced movies, music, books, newspapers, games, and so on.
The device is closed and you can only run the software Apple decides you should be allowed. No vi, ssh, shell scripts, or my own programs. 3G data communication is available which in theory makes it so you can get to the cloud from anywhere -- except that AT&T has good signal only in the (not too big) cities. The device has very limited storage and gives no access to the file system. I can't turn off cookies and JavaScript in the browser. On the plus side though, Flash is not supported.
I'd rather have a laptop like the MacBook Air instead. Or a MacBook Pro. You have to use the iPad with another computer anyway, so why bother?