Thanks BAP, and very good of you to notice! As fate would have it, however, might be just as well I got it in because I've lost three systems in the last week or so and the hit's really showing. Just one of those bad bad runs, I haven't been going around punching them or anything.
I think in the case of the (esp. sudden) big number achievers it's employer equipment as you suggest. Stanford is quick to highlight their permission- required policy whenver it comes up. Video cards are the best response. Most science and therefore points bang per buck.