Macbook Purchase Help

First off, sorry for asking the same boring questions that get mulled over in these forums all day every day, but I am looking for a few quick questions being a first time mac buyer...well at least since college which is now 10-years ago.

Second, I have had bad luck with my last 2 laptops, and I am looking to switch for stability sake, and just to test out the opposition.

Third, this will be my primary/only computer with the exception of my wife's pink laptop and my work laptop (Windows-based)

My use for this computer will be -

- Active Picture/Video storage and some very lite non-media file storage.
- All non-working pics/videos are eventually archived to the web, external storage and DVD disc.
- I will be looking to do video editing (lite), nothing with extreme or crazy rendering, just maybe some dissolves or lame fades...mostly just combining video of my kids to burn to disc for viewing.
- I do a great deal of photography, and I like to do some light touchups, however as I progress in learning the art I would like to do more, but nothing professional grade at this point.
- I used to play video games, but not really interested in playing unless on my PS3/Xbox when I have time. I do own a copy of torchlight via steam, which would be the only game I would consider, or something like Civilization or Starcraft, nothing more if ever anything.

I just do not want to overbuy or overpay for something that I will not need or use. Looking for input and opinions on the following models.

I do however have a few general questions as I get up to speed on macs.

- The i5 processors, is the bus speed running at 1333 in the new models requiring the 1333 RAM for optimal performance, or is the 1066 rated that max it can utilize anyway. The reason I ask is because I have 8GB of 1066 that I could pop in any system I buy. I assume the i7 quad will require the 1333, but I was not sure about the other 3. Any input on this will help.

- Comparing the last year Core i5 15in model I have listed below. How would that computer rate against this years 13 inch models. I was originally going to buy the Core i7 15inch model (entry level 15), I have listed below. But there is about a $300 gap to the Core i5 (2010) 15 inch MBP, and the same to this years MBP 13 i7 dual, and a $500-$600 gap to this years 13inch model. While I have the money to pay for any of them, I just hate paying for something I do not need anymore.

- In the real world how would the processors from the 4 computers listed below fare considering the work I would be doing?

- The same question for the Intel 3000 Sandy Bridge vs the 330m GT vs the 6470m?

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts in advance. Sorry for being such a MAC noob.

The computers under consideration are the following -

MacBook Pro 2.3GHz dual-core Intel i5 (2011)
13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1280-by-800 resolution
4GB (2 x 2GB) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
320GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM

MacBook Pro 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 (2011)
13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1280-by-800 resolution
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM

MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 (2010)
15.4-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display (1440 x 900 pixel)
4GB (2 x 2GB) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
320GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR3 memory

MacBook Pro 2.0GHz quad-core Intel i7 (2011)
15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1440-by-900 resolution
4GB (2 x 2GB) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel HD Graphics 3000 and AMD Radeon HD 6490M