It may feel cheap but for five years I've used my original Rebel from the back yard to places like Alaska and New Zealand, and in all kinds of conditions. It's held up perfectly.

Obviously Nikon makes fine cameras, but choosing a particular brand is such an investment in compatible gear and lenses that once you do it, it's tough to switch. And that's besides how foreign it feels at first to use another brand when you're so used to what you use.

There is one thing I really dislike about the Rebel series - the stupid marketing name. Just give it a number and a letter like everywhere else. (For those unaware, the Digital Rebel is called the 300D and the XTi is the 400D outside the U.S.) I don't know why that annoys me but it does.