Mac Mini: Apple recruiting tool?

You know the drill: you've got a disgruntled Windows user in your midst, take advantage of the opportunity to put in the good word for Macintosh, watch their eyes light up at all the time they won't have to spend on non-productive computer maintenance, then BAM. They ask you about prices. You've lost them.

SteveJack at MacDailyNews, consultant and contractor, says that his recent travels through the IT world seem to indicate that
things are changing. $500 may have been the magic price point that will change those conversation-killing moments into recruitment opportunities. He says that even the IT folks who usually disparage "oh ess ex" are ordering Mac minis out of sheer curiosity. They are coming to him with questions they would never ask before – questions of the "awww isn't that cute!" variety such as whether or not Macs support USB, integrate with MS Office, and whether VGA monitors will work.

Any other folks who traverse the world of IT have any stories to tell? Are you seeing more willing converts? Getting more questions? Is there a backlash effect from the Windows diehards?