I (finally) bought a coffee table. It arrived today. Its size is... substantial. Honestly, it's too big for the amount of space I have in which to fit it and looks a little awkward in my apartment. But, you know, I won't live here forever.
In the meantime, it folds out into an even larger table. In a transformer, this would be incredibly lame. In a coffee table, it's an admirable quality for this ability makes the coffee table a useful place on which to play games. (Or, as the saleswoman told me, "have a Japanese-style dinner." I hate saleswomen.)
More important, however, is that I now have a place for my large-ish collection of coffee table books. That was one of the key reasons for getting this thing to begin with, of course. (Also use as a footstool; which reminds me, I need to buy some pillows.)