I've been lurking here on LL for a couple of years, but this recent controversy over the KR article has be quite puzzled. I am not sure why some people took the opinion of a single person on one website *almost* as a personal insult.
A few years back I met a man, basically a complete novice, trying to learn more about photography, but when I cam across him he had almost given up. He simply did not have the money for the "really good camera" he was told he need to make good results. This attitude that he ran into in both person and on some internet web sites really did a number on him. So in my opinion, the way I read the KR article, I though it was aimed at people like this guy - people who have to put money for buying groceries, keeping the car on the road,paying for the kid's dental work, etc, before buying a new D200 or D300 every couple of years. Keep up hope, develop your skills, don't give up if you cannot afford the best.
The other issue that bothers me is what is the best? After recently buying a new Nikon D40 - well just even this afternoon, I was asked "why not the new D300?" or "Why not a D3?"
Well the answer is simple - the money that would of gone into a D300 or even a D3 instead went into a new 4x5", a couple of G-clarons, a second spot meter and a Devere 504 enlarger.
However, I have never, ever at any time used the fact I shoot LF to "look down my nose" at the other guy because his camera was "only" 35mm Nikon or Mamiya or or even a digital SLR. Hey, you use what works for you, right? even if I had the cash in my pocket for a D3 right at this moment, personally I would rather buy a new 11x14 and get into some heavy duty contact prints.
One last comment - a number of pros I know do NOT use the latest digital SLR. One specific example I am talking about are newspaper photographers, the kind who hit the asphalt everyday covering the daily local news. The resolution on most print or web editions of newspapers don't require the D3 or even the D300, and so as a result, a lot of newspapers are either unwilling or maybe cannot even afford to replace all their gear every two or three years. The attitude many newspapers is you use it until it wears out. Right or wrong, that's how the real world works out for a lot of people.