Sharon,
As far as DSLRs breaking down - maybe they do break more than the old film cameras. Someone selling cameras would certainly know those numbers better than I. I know that my Nikon D70 has been in the shop once in the couple of years I've had it. I shot Nikon film cameras for twenty five years before I finally came late to my first digital, the D70. Like everyone else I was waiting for the price to come within my grasp.
About the reliability ... I think that anyone who is serious about their mission has always brought a backup (I'm thinking of Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now), whether they shot film back when, or digital today. Although some of the good sturdy film cameras were very tough they were not immune to trouble. Now my backup is my old film steam engine, with a roll of Fuji 160 pro film that I keep in my fridge (should I have bought 400? what will my conditions be? I don't know, I had to guess) . I wish it were another D70. If my D70 breaks again I will send it off again to Nikon, who fixed it free last time, and eagerly await it's return.
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I would argue the print quality. I would need at least a 11 megapixel camera to give me the quality of the large blow-ups I have needed in the past. Small 8x10's are not a problem, but try a D70 on a 30x40 or bigger print and see what happens.
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Are you saying that you are blowing up your film prints to this size and you are good with the quality? It would seem to be a fairly easy test to perform. A DSLR 6mp shot at best quality raw against the best 160 color print film. No doubt an 11mp DSLR camera would do a better than either, can't argue that, but until you go to a medium or large format film camera you're not going to best the 160 in you FE.
I'll bet you a New England clam chowder spread on a Kaiser roll, or however you guys eat that stuff, that the difference would tip to the DSLR against the FE with 160.
As far as your lenses, they would work great on your new digital Nikon. They wouldn't be taking advantage of some of the digital features, but they would still work well and pocess all the attributes that you rightly covet. I still use my old lenses on my D70.
If there really is a rush back to film then those heading that way should be pleased to find a truck load of perfectly good film cameras waiting for them on EBAY for pocket change.
I can only witness to my own experience over the last few years, and I'm not a real photographer, only a guy that uses photos for purposes other than a photographic end.
For ease of operation, real time editing, image quality, dynamic changes per image, archiving, ongoing expense, ability to practice endlessly for free, and knowing when I walk away from a shoot that I have got the goods, I would hate to go back. Digital has too much to offer and a much brighter future. Digital will get better, I can't see a bright future for film.
My mouths tired, maybe others have formed different opinions.