What a bizarre bloke. Why make such a big fuss about being VAT registered and the perks that entails. I'm ex-aircrew and now run my own company. Of course I'm VAT Registered, the threshold is so low that only low paid toilet cleaners wouldn't be (maybe Blogger is Cesspit Sid). As for the perks (VAT free computers etc)bloody hell mate if that's the best perk you've got from running your own business then you're doing something very seriously wrong.
Maybe the problem is that you never really learned that genuine hard work brings serious rewards. Those 9-5 days still a killer are they fella?