After being inspired to do some research by a common surname I found through this thread, I was finally able to establish 2 kinships with Gov. Sarah Heath Palin (through the Willards and the Dunsters). One of the things that I initially admired about her was the lack of any Eastern Establishment background in her bio, but ironically I found that we're both related to three Harvard presidents.
And as for those people who don't think genealogy has much relevance, I tend to think that there is much more to it than just loose chromosomal ties and faded lessons passed down through the generations. The more I research it, the more I find uncanny coincidences of people and place.