SE turboprop vs. VLJ?

I read the press release from EADS Socata for the new TBM 850. They're
pitching it as a direct competitor to Very Light Jets with a 320kt
cruise at FL260 and 2.5-2.8M price. My question is does it really
compete with the new jets when it's a good 50kts slower? (typical
advertised VLJ cruise speeds are around 370kt +/-) Or is the speed
disparity a non-issue for those buyers? Compared to the Eclipse the
TBM's base price is $1M higher with a typically optioned plane about
1.3M more. Is short field capability a big seller in this segment?

Then again I read Beech is pitching its King Air C90GT as a VLJ
competitor with a 270kt cruise. At 3M it's 2x the price and 100kt
slower but has a larger cabin than the Eclipse. Maybe the marketing
spin is just lost on me?

Wooly