OK, I have to swing into this because it is so interesting. BigBen2K, that has to be one of the most interesting sites I've read in the last 6 months. Thanks!
As for heat pipes, I think you are barking up the wrong tree. Yes, it would be good to move heat from a small area to a larger area so that the cooling method requires less vigor. However, I don't believe that the cost effectiveness of a heat pipe can compare to the simple changes needed to increase water velocity and decrease the skin effect. Note: please prove me wrong, as I'm just spouting my theories instead of experimentally proven fact.
A heatpipe should have a hard time competing against a moving body of water which is close to the surface of the CPU. The higher the water velocity (and the thinner the skin effect), the thinner you can make the bottom wall of the waterblock.
I just think that it's easier to fiddle with getting a better pump, larger diameter hose, lower restriction radiator and so on. I read a web page saying that heat pipes were really finicky and not all that good at moving heat compared to even simple water cooling close to the die. Remember, every extra layer we add to the coolant system means an extra layer of resistance to the heat flow (unless you add peltiers or other active heat movement technologies).
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