chipguy,
The 64 bit Nocona shipped in mid 2004. That means Intel
decided to build a 64 bit x86 chip in 1999 or 2000 at the
latest
Firstly, I think you are exaggerating the timing, secondly, Intel denied existance of Yamhill and never planned to turned it on in absence of a successful AMD 64 bit alternative.
Deal with it.
The whole scheme (of killing x86 by keeping it 32 bit) blew up when Itanium failed to deliver, which is something you are having hard time dealing with.
Joe