I'm probably talking way out of place here - but I think I can undertstand and equate your situation with decisions that photographers have been facing for decades (although, new technologies seem to develop much faster nowadays). (I am currently looking for a good buy on a Nikon F4 - the F5 doesn't really interest me - the F4 does everything I want a camera to do for the photography I want to shoot) - which brings me to my point - have a "want list" of features and capabilities in the camera you want to buy (and don't let manufacturers convince you that "this new feature is something you can't live without". Newer does not necessarily mean "better" - as often as not, it means "less cost intensive to produce" to a manufacturer - and they'll sugar-coat the "newer" with a bunch of bull. List the features you want in a camera (digital or analog) and purchase the best body that fits your description (keeping in mind the system that backs it). Understand, I really have no exposure (pun not intended) with digital equipment - so I may not have a rung to stand on here...just my 2 cents worth.

Other than photography, I do (primarily) digital illustration - and the same considerations come into play...it seems that every time I look into the purchase of a new system, there's another one right around the bend. Past experience has taught me NOT to wait for "the next best thing" - but by purchasing the equipment as I need it, I'm developing expertise at a level that would surpass my expertise had I waited to purchase "the next generation"....and THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A "NEXT GENERATION"! If you wait to purchase the "newest" technology, you will ALWAYS be waiting - because there is ALWAYS newer technology - meantime, your artistic avanues are closed as you wait.

As far as the lenses go - it's gotta be strictly up to you, depending on the type of photography you want to do (if you like shooting a lot of wide-vista landscapes, i would suggest a lens that offers the best range in wide to mid-telephoto without much concern for the speed of the lens..you probably won't be using it at it's wide-open aperture anyway - if you wanted to shoot a lot of side-line sports or wildlife, I would say a longer zoom as fast as you could get it...it's up to the type of photography you want to do).

Anyway, sorry for the dissertation (I think I'm getting known for 'em)

Marc