OK, well I've spent more time in Aperture 2, specifically trying to duplicate results I've gotten in LR and I now have to agree that the two are very close in terms of the quality and look of the tools. Of course they aren't identical, but there doesn't seem to be anything significant that I can achieve in LR than I can't in Aperture.
So, I'm not leaning back toward upgrading to Aperture 2, and keeping that wonderfully improved UI.