Well, as somebody who needs to break into bowhunting this year, and waited too late for it, it actually is a natural progression - I want to hunt this year, but don't have the time necessary to buy, tune, sight in, and perfect my technique with a standard compound. A crossbow will let me hunt this year, and starting in January I can really shop around and get a good fit, then practice all summer.
But yeah, I've always been with you guys that a crossbow is cheating. Guess I just need that for a season.