Thank you all for the responses. I have managed to get back to a few stores for some more hands-on action, and am sold on the DSLR route. That said, I still have a lot of choices to make. I do not absolutely need the size of the E420, and was actually looking more at the E520/510 than the 420 ... but it sounds like for the price I would be better off with either a jump to the up XSi or over to the XTi or to the D60. To top it off, the cameras I would eventually upgrade to (of course, by time I do they will be obsolete, or their features will be dropped down to the body size and price of current entry-level SLRs) are looking like Canons and Nikons, which would make owning Olympus glass rather silly.
I suppose when it comes down to buying the camera as a system, and purchasing not only a potential future line of cameras but also a subscribing to a line of lenses, the D60 looks like the best shot for my price range. It comes with a stabilized lens, for one thing ... but I will take another look at the XTi too.
At this point, I don't think I would be unhappy with any one of these cameras, but I would rather spend more money now for glass that will last. It sounds like Nikon or Canon are the way to go in that department.
Thanks again,
Sulinde
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