Have you played with the tilt up/down function yet? (It took me a while to discover that one.) it's what gives you the elevation type look. You can also chnge the scale from 1 to a higher number as well, to exaggerate the elevation differences. If you select your location, you'll also get a long and latitude setting.. if you post that, others can just inout that data, and google earth will whisk you away to your location. How much detail can you see on your area? I can make out a water tower about 80 feet across. (Not real high res detailing here.) Check out grand canyon, az New orlenas (if you want to see what the city used to look like before the hurricane), or seattle washington, Chicago Ill, or New York City for very hi res scans. Just friggin amazing. I could even see my Mom's old house in Bay Village, Ohio, and make out the room she added onto the house. (it looks like someone tore the garage down though.)

Way too many people take way too many things way too seriously.