17" MBP 500GB 7200RPM Hard Disk - Performance Issues

Am I the only 17" MBP user that is having performance issues, along with the click+beep?
My Hard Disk performs terribly:
-3 hours to install 10.5.6 (Erase and Install).
-30 minutes to duplicate 10GB of data.
-An XBench Disk Test score of 15.22
Results 15.22
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6 (10A421a)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model MacBookPro5,2
Drive Type ST9500420ASG
Disk Test 15.22
Sequential 15.01
Uncached Write 60.44 37.11 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 37.41 21.16 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 5.38 1.57 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 26.89 13.52 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 15.42
Uncached Write 5.95 0.63 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 35.97 11.52 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 27.85 0.20 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 36.33 6.74 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Apple refuses to replace it without me visiting a retail store (almost an hour drive).
Should I just take the hit and buy a new drive?

Personally, I would take it back, try a new one right in the store, and if that didn't work, I would demand my money back and wait until Apple fixes this hard drive issue. Oh, and tell the manager of the Apple Store you want an iTunes gift certificate for all your troubles and traveling time.
Dave M.
MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
Macsimum News Associate Editor  Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support'

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