Disagree. My first SLR (and still my only "really good" camera) is a well-used original Canon Digital Rebel with 18-55 kit lens that I bought off a friend for

Disagree. My first SLR (and still my only "really good" camera) is a well-used original Canon Digital Rebel with 18-55 kit lens that I bought off a friend for $100, then added some accessories and a 50mm lens. My entire setup cost less than some people spend on lenses or bodies alone, and it's more than I'll ever need. Going from a P&S to a dSLR was like going from a car with an automatic transmission to one with a stick shift. There's more I have to do myself, but I've also got much more control over the process. That said, my most famous picture (has won photo competitions, been used as a magazine cover, and as background for lifetime award certificates) was a "lucky shot" I got with a Canon S3-IS point-and-shoot. It's not about the equipment.