Galen,
Check out the Trek / Cannondale tandems as was suggested. My wife and I test road the Trek T-2000 and the '04 Cannondale Road Tandem (they only make one model this year). We bought the Cannondale because it was stronger tubing and $1,000 less ($2,250 retail) and had good components including disc brakes. I have a Litespeed road bike and am a snob as you put it, but didn't see the need to buy a $5k Santana or Co-Motion. The Cannondale's ride is very nice and we love riding on it.
It is the time spent together, not the method that counts. She didn't care what tandem we got as long as she was comfortable. She doesn't know the difference in component levels, just as long as it rides nice and smooth.
Mark