Redesigned Brushed Metal iMacs?

While the iPhone is getting most of the headlines, with the World Wide Developer's Conference around the corner, there is also plenty of speculation about Apple's other products. The Mac line is getting some attention, with many models being ripe not only for updated components, but also a fresh new look.

The iMac has kept its current look for some time, as Apple chose not to redesign any of their machines during the Intel transition. With the transition behind and almost every report about the upcoming iMac models mentioning a redesign it looks like the all-in-one will be getting a facelift.
Also a point of agreement between all rumor site and reports is that of the smallest iMac model, which will be reportedly scrapped. While all of the reports agree on the fact that the 20-inch iMac will soon become the smallest of the line, only some of them hint that Apple will be adding a new model to sit at the top of the line, with an even bigger screen than the current ones.
While up until recently reports made no mention of what the new machines would actually look like, recent reports paint the redesigned iMacs in brushed metal. Furthermore, rumors indicate that the new design would be more like the current Cinema Displays with the area below the display being reduced considerably.

It seems unlikely that Apple would do such a thing. So far, the company has differentiated between its consumer line and the pro line with the case designs, white being for the lower end and brushed metal for the top end. If Apple were to make the new iMac with brushed metal enclosures, that would put them in the professional range of products in terms of look. Furthermore, if Apple were to do this and then reduce the area below the screen where components were stored, the differences between iMacs and Cinema Displays would suddenly become less clear. Apple likes to keep things simple, and having a display and an all-in-one computer that look very similar would lead to a lot of confusion, especially with people new to computers who will have a hard time understanding the differences between the two.

It seems clear that the iMac line will get a new look, but it is unlikely that it will be brushed metal and a form factor that is almost identical to the current Cinema Displays.