So after reading a good dozen or so reviews I think I have a decent summary.
GTX480
+Price / Performance level very near 5870
+Price is fair in regards to price based on the available alternatives (again point 1)
+Indisputably faster than the 5870, often with noticeable better minimum framerates
+Respectable clock headroom ( although I didn't see enough info on the increases in power / noise at overclocked settings )
+Very nice SLI scaling with 2 cards for a new release
- 100watts more power draw at load over a 5870 ( aka not power efficient at all ) Do note that load power draw of *2* 5870 is often similar to the 480 according to many of these reviews*
- 25watts more idle draw ( not terrible but not impressive either by any stretch )
- Hot as the lava in metroid ( pure pwnage reference)
- Loudest reference card
-Underwhelming performance at 2560x1600 ( although there are multiple mentions of this being driver related... which strikes me as odd )
So assuming they don't combust down the road ( of which Nvidia attest to not happening... ) if you have the power supply, cooling (ie adequete case) and money and don't mind the noise, the 480 is a decent card @ its intended MSRP. Now there is still the question of availability and potential price gouging.
All that said, a 512sp part on a smaller node would probaley be epic. Now wether we can expect to see this before ATI brings out a new line... doubtful. And as far as a dual gpu part, all I can say is good luck. Given Nvidia's claimed TDPs are easily reached ( quite interesting ), they'd have to pull some serious voodoo magic to manage a dual gpu card that works AND makes sense at its price and performance level ( a very difficult prospect I'd say )
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