The amount of memory depends on the application. I watch my usage with Process Explorer and can say definitively that 8GB is way not enough. I continuously have to close apps I am working with to stop being slowed down in page faults. A CAD system could easily blow though that. Not everyone spends their days running video games or can afford a $20k system. The $20k system would have software issues anyway, as only very dedicated applications are tested on those platforms.

However, the memory should be pretty isolated from the rest of the CPU, so I'm not sure it is that much a limitation here.

People continuously talk about voltages and temps for 24/7 use. However, I can't recall a single post of someone who had a CPU fail prematurely from excessive voltage or temperature.

It strikes me a lot like people who are afraid to rev their engines or press the throttle to the floor even though the same engines are run at high speed continuously in some markets and are actually more efficient at larger throttle openings. Basically, they buy 300hp engines (@6000rpm) and never run them over 175hp. If they just had a 175hp it would be much more efficient.

In the engine, could parts wear out from extreme use? Well, cam lobes, valves springs, valve stems, piston pins, and connecting rod caps all break in race engines. However, street engines with different warranties and maintenance schedules can pretty much run without service for any of these beyond the useful of the engine engine. As early as the 1970s I ran stock, unmodified engines for literally 10s of thousands of miles on race tracks without any engine modifications (over 4,000 laps at Lime Rock, and even rolled it once at Bridgehampton and once at Lime Rock).

Back to CPUs. Over voltage to the point of damage, or over temperature could probably both cause problems. The Core i7 is capable of frequencies and voltages that make the ability to cool it adequately with air or water questionable. However, 4GHz@1.45v/60C seems so far below what has been achieved that it barring manufacturing defect it seems unlikely those values are jeopardizing the CPU for any reasonable life expectancy.