The purchase of protection is highly recommended for a laptop, any laptop, but the choice between the two is a little more difficult. I have no experience with the COMPUSA repair program, but there is usually a Mac guy, not an actual employee of COMPUSA, that comes in a few times a week. Corner him and ask abut the COMPUSA protection verses the AppleCare.

I have had experience with AppleCare and the repair of laptops and can relay my experiences with them.
Laptops are "usually" repaired at one or two Apple centers, one in TN, one in TX, which is the usual repair strategy for an Apple laptop. Authorized Service Providers usually send them off to either of these two places to be repaired.
They are usually very quick too. I've sent one Fedex on Monday and had it back, repaired, on Wednesday.
You can even to this yourself with a laptop repair. They will send you a box, you pack and ship it(prepaid), and it's back in short order. AppleCare would be my cover of choice.

Others here may have experience with the COMPUSA program.

What was the problem you had with your machine?

Do you have an Apple Store anywhere near you?

P