Matt, I disagree that only now are consumers getting x64 CPUs. Athlon64s have been available since late 2003. I built my current PC in September 2005 and I specced it with an Athlon 64 X2 3800+ which wasn’t unusually expensive or “high-end” even back then.
Look at a major manufacturer like Dell and even some of the cheapest amd most basic systems they offer use 64-bit capable CPUs.
Okay, perhaps it is too much to expect Microsoft to exclude 32-bit completely, but why is it the default? It currently isn’t possible to buy a retail version of Vista 64. Instead you buy the 32-bit version and then follow the instructions inside to send off for the 64-bit one!
Given my experiences with XP x64, I don’t find that approach very comforting.