Michael, since you're back now, might you briefly describe what Lightroom is supposed to be and do from the perspective of the workflow applied to print a raw image from a digital camera? Recognizing that Lightroom is a work in progress, what new features can be expected (and not expected) as the product matures?
I have thousands of images already stored (and archived) in my own databases so I don't understand why I should copy or duplicate them for Lightroom. I don't have to "import" any images to use them in Bridge or CS2 Why should I start now?
If Lightroom is supposed to take the place of Camera Raw, then it may soon be expected to have file size, bit-depth, bit-density and noise controls for sizing prints without going into Photoshop.
If Lightroom is not supposed to replace Photoshop, I suppose it will not contain transforms, selection tools, local color controls, layers, texture filters, etc. But I use some of these tools on most of my prints, so what is the advantage of having to go into PS for them alone when everything else is already in Lightroom?
Finally, what is a "metadata" edit? Is that a disphemism for a "global" edit?