MacBook Air: the right choice for a College student?

Hello there!
I'm buying my first Apple laptop in the near future (probably tomorrow as I like to buy things in store and not online and I live roughly 75 miles from the nearest Apple store and am heading to the mall it's located in on a shopping trip tomorrow, anyway). I currently have a 3 year old Dell that has no battery life at all (it has to be connected 24/7 to an outlet, the mouse clicky button doesn't work, it overheats, and the hardrive has already been replaced not once but twice) and I don't use it for anything other than school, facebook, watching movies via netflix, skype, and listening to music. I've been doing months of research and all has lead me to Apple.
I want this laptop to last me until I am done with my masters and into the first couple years of my teaching career, so roughly 6 years. Is that too much to ask from this machiene?
I'm inlove with the thiness, lightness and portability of the Macbook Air. I use my laptop a lot, this semester I'm finishing out my core requirements and a lot of them are "bullsh*t" classes where I can do nothing and get an A. I would therefore have my laptop with me, I also bring it to friends rooms to study and relax. My goal is to have a laptop that I can write papers, continue to watch movies and use it as a basic machiene. I barely use a cd drive (my aunt is willing to by the drive that goes with the Air) but when I do it's just for burning music to my itunes. I want a machiene that will have a long lasting battery life - that's my biggest concern.
My roomate has a Macbook Pro and keeps telling me that I'd hate the Air.
I've read that people do not like it as it does not have a backlit keyboard. That doesn't bother me as my keyboard currently isn't backlit.
I've also read that people continue to prefer the pro over the air but I am not a fan of the pro just as it is so much bigger.
I barely ever use my USB drive, when I do its to transfer over files that need to be printed.  So having only two of them means nothing to me really.
I'm just looking for assistance to help me make my decision. I feel like I already made it but I just want to be sure that I'm making the right choice.
My personal pros/cons:
Pros: lightweight, small, highly portable, amazing webcam, excellent battery life
Cons: it's so thin I feel like I would snap it in two pieces
Thank you so much!

Listen to us, Lovekate!
We know you're eager, but hold out just a little longer--maybe a week or two--for the update! Please! It's the smart thing to do because it may give you options you can use. Kate! Look away from the machines. This way! This way! You can do this. If you don't, you'll feel buyers remorse and that's not good. Hold off. You'll be happy you did...also, don't forget, when you do buy, you get a student discount.
From what you say, you've found the computer you love and don't need any encouragement from us. But here's advise for what you can say to your friends:
(1) To those telling you to get the Pro--you are not going to buy more than you need. With Clouds, and online mail and external hard drives, there is no need for you to haul around anything made heavy with a huge hard drive you'll never fill up. And the Air can do anything a Pro can do excepting update to a bigger hard drive (which you've just explained you don't need--like you don't need the CD drive). And the 13" actually has a longer lasting battery than the 13" Pro.
(2) Why should you get a computer you don't love, and therefore is no fun or joy for you to work on, rather than a computer you love, which you will love working on? Apple rule, "Always get what you love." 
(3) To your Dad, you are buying something very like a car. And like a car, if you buy one cheap, it will cost you if it breaks down, needs repairs, or needs replacing. Needing to buy a new cheap car every other year can add up to the same cost as buying a new car that will last you ten years. You are buying a computer that will last you, be reliable, and not need repairs thus interfering with your productivity (by the way, get Apple Care--adds two more years warranty for a total of 3 years--trust us on this. If you can't afford it now, you can hold off buying it till the end of the first year, but do get it!). Apple computers also have good resale value.
In short, as much as it costs, it will be worth it.
Hope that helps, and remember...hold out! or if you've already bought it--you have 14 days to return it.

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