Well ignoring the software, it looks like the specs beat similarly priced Windows Laptops and Macs, so you're probably not going to pay extra, if you do (say compared to a solid Dell XPS 13 2015 which has different price ranges) it won't be much. Either way, while I appreciate some people will never use tablet form factors much, I was personally pleasantly surprised by the form factor despite being a guy who always built his own PCs, barely used laptops and didn't care for any mobility in my computer/device usage at home or at the office (even keeping my laptop almost permanently docked), I now take my tablet to the couch quite a lot to read, play some chess, watch some video. I think you'd be surprised to use it as a tablet but that's just a generalisation, perhaps you are an exception.
The lack of USB-C surprised me a bit, too, especially as they said 'we only stopped going thinner because we wanted to fit USB', i.e. they're claiming they could go even thinner without compromising anything except losing USB, which is where USB-C would've done the trick. Anyway I probably would've gone USB myself, too, there's just too much stuff out there for existing laptops using USB. But instead of the charger, why not offer USB-C as a charger, alongside the regular USB ports? The charger could then connect to a new docking station that'd give you both charging as well peripherals like a monitor, mouse and keyboard office setup. That way you could push USB-C forward, create an easy charging and docking setup, maintain the old USB ports this generation (thereby not excluding anyone), while also facilitating those who buy new USB-C peripherals because they actually work on the Surface Book, making a full change to USB-C in the future (Surface Book 2 or 3) easier, which would then allow an even thinner device. I mean I get they built a cool charger and docking solution and it sucks to ditch that but I don't see the advantage over USB-C.
The lack of USB-C surprised me a bit, too, especially as they said 'we only stopped going thinner because we wanted to fit USB', i.e. they're claiming they could go even thinner without compromising anything except losing USB, which is where USB-C would've done the trick. Anyway I probably would've gone USB myself, too, there's just too much stuff out there for existing laptops using USB. But instead of the charger, why not offer USB-C as a charger, alongside the regular USB ports? The charger could then connect to a new docking station that'd give you both charging as well peripherals like a monitor, mouse and keyboard office setup. That way you could push USB-C forward, create an easy charging and docking setup, maintain the old USB ports this generation (thereby not excluding anyone), while also facilitating those who buy new USB-C peripherals because they actually work on the Surface Book, making a full change to USB-C in the future (Surface Book 2 or 3) easier, which would then allow an even thinner device. I mean I get they built a cool charger and docking solution and it sucks to ditch that but I don't see the advantage over USB-C.