*coughs*

@ TNÖ: 

What more do I need to organize that I can't just do with the built-in features of Pages (i.e., page thumbnails, the Inspector...?)

Oh well, some people like to be cynical about technology. When you have used Scrivener and Pages to write the same thing with exactly the same words, it is so much easier in Scrivener. In Pages you have to make multiple documents, one per chapter, which becomes hard to refer between, or make one REALLY big document.

I find the flashy features in Scrivener (and most other "professional" writing programs) to be distracting and to detract from my actual time spent writing, which obviously is detrimental in an event like NaNo.

 In the writing part, maybe, but all you have to do is go to full screen mode and novel like a crazed wombat to block out those features. When you edit--ESPECIALLY when you edit and revise--some features can be VERY helpful. More on this below.

 Even, for example, Scrivener's script-writing formats can be found under the Misc. section in Pages templates, so what do I need to spend forty bucks on a program for if I can do exactly the same thing with the word processor that came with my computer?

You have a different situation than mine, then, but I would be willing to bet that iWork '08 only came because you paid extra for it before you bought the computer. Scrivener costs less in the long run.

Sorry if this comes off as rude, I just don't like flashy word processors that add some nice graphics and an outline feature and then expect me to think it'll work any better than a simpler but efficient program like Pages.

Not all it adds is graphics and an outline feature. Try organizing all your character sketches and chapters in a giant set of Pages documents or one big one that's too long. Scrivener gives you a nice organized sidebar. And once you delve deep into the mysteries of Pages, it's not much simpler. Scrivener just looks more complex.

Take, for example, the cork board feature. What would I even need that for? If I really wanted a cork board and index cards to tell me my plot I'd steal some index cards from mom and use the cork board in my friend's room (she's at boarding school in CA, I doubt she'd mind).

The cork board feature lets you change the color of the pins to show what level of revision and editing you've completed on a certain chapter, document, or whatever. It may not help while you're writing the first draft, but it becomes so helpful in the editing and revising, it's not even funny. And... Apple kind of went overboard with the aesthetics in Pages. It's too brushed metal kind of color scheme. :)

Or the outline- that's what paper and pencil's for. I hate reading outlines onscreen. 

I have never used the outline. Neither has my Dad. It is inferior to the corkboard. To tell the truth, I hate reading outlines onscreen too. 

Ditto the "refer to research" thing. It's called paper, pencil, and note-taking skills. Or if that fails, an actual book and a lot of sticky notes. It's easier to read from physical paper anyway.

Your eyes are different than mine, then. And referring stuff to research... character sketches are what I always put in the research section. It is so helpful to be able to put in Scrivener links on pieces of text, so if I don't remember what Elizabeth looks like, I can click on her name and up comes the whole character profile. 

And this "snapshot" thing? *whispers* That's what the automatic backup feature on Pages is for. You don't have to do anything, it just makes a backup of the old version for you whenever you save. 

What about the autosave in Scrivener? You missed that. Every two seconds of "keyboard inactivity", e.g. when you're not actually writing it, the document will automatically save. I don't like having to press Command-S every time I want to pause work on my document; I can just let Scrivener save it for me. And the snapshots are very helpful to see how your thoughts have progressed from the beginning of the writing to wherever you were now... 

I do wish Pages '08 had the fullscreen mode. That's my only issue, and once I upgrade/get a new computer with iWork '09 that won't be a problem.

Fullscreen mode in Pages '09 and Scrivener are basically the same. Scrivener just makes it easier to format it. 

...This turned into a rant. I'm sorry, all I meant to say is "I don't much care for "professional writing" word processors. The simpler the better, IMHO." 

Excuse me for defending my favorite professional writing word processor! And may I note that far more books have been written in Scrivener than Pages, whatever version you are using. I don't expect that'll change anytime soon.