[philfreo]

AWS has a bunch of options for exactly what you're looking for.

Just want better disk performance? Use instance storage or high provisioned IOPS EBS.

Just want a lot of memory? Pick a M2 or CR1 Memory-optimized instance type and pay for more RAM without adding CPU.

Just want more CPU power? Stick with the same amount of RAM as the m1.large but add 5 times the CPU power with the c1.xlarge.

More disk space? On EBS you just pay per GB.

[stephenr]

That your examples are so different proves my point.

This is all ridiculously over-complicated, and no doubt over priced like everything AWS offers.