I'm not sure if you were around here a couple years ago when the subject of
digital was truly contentious (compared to now where it is really people jumping
over as circumstances permit).

At the time we all calculated our jump off points.  For me, I brazenly computed
my jump off point at 15 Mpix and full frame.

In the meantime various people of course made the jump to digital.  We have seen
 great photos (including sevweral from Bret) made on cropped 6 Mpix cameras.  I
have seen numerous high quality prints at 8x12" (and larger) from such cameras.
 There is little need to wait for 15 Mpix... 6 Mpix is 'just there', and I hope
to see K-M go a bit further in the near future (8 Mpix would be nice, 10 better).

I love my slides, but half or more could be digital and I'd be just as happy.

Cheers,
Alan

I beg to differ, Joseph.  This class of camera seems to attract those whose
interest in photography is just now starting to take off.  The lower level,
"entry" or "consumer" (although these cameras are really the "consumer'
bodies!) are too limited in some manner, especially if they are digital.
Film itself overcame some of the limitations that these people are finding
with digital, like sensor size, noise, suchlike.  Also this level of camera
has faster AF, and sometimes more accurate, too.
There are a lot of reasons the purchasers of this class of camera is more
than just partially interested in photography.