While the 7D may be bought by a number of "amateur" photographers, the vast majority will be more serious amateurs. A sigificant proportion of this group of amateurs will be thinking more like a professional with similar notions of rejecting poorer work. Many will also be producing work almost as good or in some cases better than professionals. With these thoughts in mind, the majority of potential 7D/7D MkII customers would not be looking purely at sensor resolution when deciding on a replacement camera and serious wildlife and sports amateurs would not be happy with anything less, even if it did have slightly higher resolution, as it simply wouldn't do the job. While I'm not the same standard as the top pros, I need the faster frame rate, higher standard focus and weatherproofing the 7D offers and would never consider a 60D replacement, unless it was also a 7D replacement, which wuld seem unlikely. I'm sure most of the 7D owners I know would feel the same way. I also know of pros who bought 7D's, initially to replace 1D MkIII's before the MkIV was released, but also as a backup.