One more thing: the base system from Apple are not that over-priced. It's the upgrades. Those build-to-order options are just ridiculous. Seriously. But that's not just Apple. Dell and HP do the same thing, just maybe not as outrageous.
And because Apple intentionally make their basic systems unbalanced (powerful CPUs, insufficient RAM and HDDs, and simply shameful GPU), customers tend to upgrade their machines. Don't fall for that.
So a reasonable way to do this is: order a basic system, and upgrade yourself. Now Macs just use common PC components, so why buy those from Apple? Some people still believe that there are some compatibility or quality differences between Apple-provided components and things you buy from Newegg. It's a myth. There are none (except graphics cards). And Macs are very user-upgradable now. Especially Mac Pro.
BTW: Using a Mac doesn't mean you're different or unique. Quite the opposite. Using a Mac is even more homologous than using a Dell or HP. Because Apple give you so little options. Using a Mac, and you're like several million other people. Build a machine yourself, and chances are you're quite unique. If you think using a Mac makes you unique, wake up to reality.
EOS 40D+BG-EN3/350D/17-40 f4L/70-200 f4L IS/50 f1.8/18-55 f5.6/MacBook&ThinkPad