Alright, after considering the dizzying array of options, I ordered an Acer laptop. It has both a 512gb SSD and a 1tb HDD (so basically it has it's own backup drive built in.)

One thing it does NOT have is an optical drive (CD/DVD.) This will be my first computer without an optical drive since probably 1999 but given the choice between an on-board backup drive and an optical, it was an easy one: I literally have not put anything in my optical drive in months, if not years. The only time I ever use my optical drive is if I'm installing a program. I plan on buying an inexpensive USB optical drive to install programs with and I'm assuming that once all my programs are installed, the optical drive will go into a drawer and gather dust unless I need to burn a CD or DVD for some reason.

Thanks to everyone who participated for your input! I'll probably bug you again once the computer gets here for tips on how to remove all the crapware that Windows laptops come loaded with these days.