Not to be a fanboy [never intended to be]; but:
"It's more expensive than a lot of other highly featured cameras. So what? Do you want a Porche or a Daiwo? It's much easier to fit the kids in the Daiwo. Isn't it? "
Anytime the Daewoo over the Porsche, to be honest.
I don´t have the time, nor the will, nor the energy to have to "serve" a car or a camera. They HAVE to serve me. And I don´t have to get intimidated by ANY aspect of it. I´ll get the Daewoo for the LOL´s and the smile you´ll get upon your face on every single corner on a winding road. Even on the city. Because they are THAT simple, cheap and chearful cars are usually the ones you remember everyday. Not the bloated exotica. Think Panda, Hyundai, Aygo, the first gen KA. They are simple, straightforward, and pretty reliable. Built to serve, not to be served -unless bad sample, that is-.
I´d rather have a piece of equipment I´m not afraid to get stolen, to scratch, to get dirty, to almost break. And Leicas are an eyecandy for burglars: red.dot magnetism.
I too think that any digital camera, due to its nature, is doomed to die in a max of four years. I´m sorry. And that it is not really true that of "it´s on the lenses". Not any more. Make it a trio: lenses, sensors, and builtin software. That´s what will give you the quality.
You could have a camera for forty years before. Just change the film. Unfortunately, now the "digital film" is not replaceable after a single use, or to get a better performance. The sensor stays with the body [but for MFDB].
So get a Oly 4xx, a K7, or a GH1, and have fun with them and the pancakes avaliable to them. There are some true gems for them, as the DA 35 macro [a pitty that it is a retrofocus design. A real miss for rangefinder photography, I have to say. That lens is simply spectacular].
Do not be afraid to scratch the car if you´re having fun with it.