It really is a shame to spend that much and not end up with a canon D30/D60(i've been lusting after them for months now...). I wonder how comfortable the Sony will be to hold with the point&shoot body and the relatively massive lense. I'd make sure to pick one up in person and see if it feels right in your hands. That being said, buy what you like, it's your camera. I've had my Olympus D500-L (the first digital SLR under a grand) for over four years here and I'm still using it because it fits my needs.

Matthew