Did I prompt this post Mike?
I finally made my decision and while you all made your case on the Nikon, my decision was ultimately based on money, the fact that I couldn't buy the Nikon locally and that I do have the rebel film camera and the lenses are interchangeable.
I also searched endlessly on the internet and with all of those links that had the very low prices I looked up "reviews" on those stores. Everyone of them had horrible reviews from customers. That was enough for me to not deal with them. I was close to ordering from from bandhphoto then I had the bright idea to check Walmart, they were offering the rebel for $897 online, and Sears, less than a mile from me beat it by 10% plus a year free financing. So Since I am low on money now, that was that...in the end it cost me 70 dollars more than the online stores but I have a year to pay it off. (not to mention it didn't immediately take from my pastel pot I have been squirreling aside)
So, I have just walked in with it, let me go put it together and read the directions!!! And mail off my $100 rebate.