Buying iMac with Windows license instead?

Leopard as provided with Macs is more than just Leopard. It includes iLife, and a hardware test all free as a means of testing the machine for hardware, directory, and permissions issues. Leopard as a stand alone retail installer does not include iLife, (except for iTunes), nor does it include the hardware test. So consider what you get as bundled with your Mac, more than if you had purchased them separately. I think one should consider this a free benefit, not a separate licensed software.

I know you're paying for more than the design, but I'm referring to the original poster, who asked "Is there a way of buying an iMac (simply for its design)" Unless I misunderstood the question, but it sounds like he wants to buy a Mac computer without the OS and then install XP or Vista - even if you were to buy a refurbished Mac, which would cost you something like under a thousand dollars, why spend that kind of money to buy a Mac and run only XP or Vista on it? Correct me if my assumptions are off base.

You may not have to purchase a Windows license. In fact, WINE offers a cheaper alternative than a Windows license to run many Windows applications. Crossover is a commercialized version of WINE. In addition there are many popular public domain software titles that are cheaper than their Windows alternative that you may find run just as easily on Mac OS X itself. I suggest researching all the software you desire to run on your machine, and ask if it is possible to run on Mac OS X without a Windows license. Many people here would be willing to help you. Just feel free to ask the questions.