To your question, "For those of you with gaming laptops, where did you get them?"
I bought an MSI GE70 from my local electronics store, almost 2 years ago.
http://www.msi.com/product/nb/GE60_0ND.html#hero-specificationI mean I'm happy with the purchase and it can run most games at least on medium, but I've learned that mobile graphic cards (cards on laptops) just don't compare well to desktop graphic cards. I love how portable they are though, the only downside, is I have to keep mine plugged in when I play stuff, but its gaming, come on now. In addition, it heats up and I worry about my graphics card on the long run with the fans and the heat going. I would stick with intel for laptops, then go either intel or amd with building a desktop. I need to build a budget desktop computer sometime though, so I can take some hard duties away from my laptop. A gaming laptop usually have a span of 3-6 years, and aren't easily repaired obviously, like a desktop. You gotta really take care of that *%#& xD
Looking at some of the new gaming laptops in CES 2014, there are a few that are much slimmer now, and more powerful at a decent price.