[RikWriter]

My argument is that digital cameras in each price point / marketing niche all have acceptable image quality, so that's the last thing that should be considered in the purchasing decision.

But your definition of "acceptable image quality" is likely not the same as mine. For me, I want image quality that allows the production of large, wall-hanger prints, not just 8x10s. If I were only concerned with 8x10s I would have kept my Digital Rebel.