While I bought the 7D shortly after it's arrival last year and have no budget to personally acquire this camera, I think this was a smart move by Canon. Now before you start to get your defenses up, let me state my 2 cents... There are 2 things i have heard (not agreed with, but read on this site and DPR) is that they contastly want comparisons, such as the 7D vs the D300 nokin, 50D vs the D90, etc... since the 50D wasn't directly aimed at the D90 or D300, I can count numerous comparisons, complaints, etc.... Secondly, the 2nd biggest gripe I read over the years with the X0D series, especially in the last few models when this turned more into a prosumer and consumer based camera, "It's too heavy/uncomfortable/awkward/CF cards are too expensive compared to SD, etc..."... well guess what guys... all your complaints HAVE BEEN HEARD... (Minus the sensor) issue... You complained, they listened... they aimed this squarely at the D90 just like they did with the 7D and the D300 and made is lighter, more compact, SD friendly, and threw in a swivel screen for shits and giggles. Seriously they're screwed if they do and screwed if they dont. Now while, it's slighly a let down from what we're expecting... it's what people griped for, it's what they delivered. It is a shame continuous FPS dropped, the body degraded slightly, and seriously, no Micro AF?!? But then again as in photography, as most pro's no the quality of the pictures are the lenses and if you had it in your budget for $1000 for a body and cant squeeze out another couple hundred for a 7D which may have more features than you need or want, but is one superior camera in it's own right, then you get what you pay for. Buy some lenses, be happy they replaced many lenses today and brought some new ones into the line up like that fisheye and the 70-300 L which sounds interesting if it's up to par optically with the 70-200L's... and take pictures...