@farmerman,
Sounds like you got the right system that works for you. Love to see some of those mineral crystal shots I've seen you talk about elsewhere. Bet there downright artsy-fartsy.
For example on my D100 I have an in-camera menu option that allows me to view and image's densitometer graph chart of the highlights, midtones and shadows ..and even a version of the image that flashes on and off indicating where the highlights are blown out so that you can take a different exposure. oh yes, and a shooting option that will auto-bracket in 1/2 stop increments sandwiched around the 'correct' exposure. Overkill for most shooters ...but it makes me happy for some of the critical stuff...saving me time away from monitor Photoshopping the image to improve it afterwards.
For years, photogs, photog sales-droids and photo reviewers have fanned the flames of religious wars between Canon and Nikon. It's similar to the PC vs Mac religious wars. Each one has its proponents and detractors. Stores sell a lot of product (magazines, books and tons of product). However, once you go Mac, very few go back to PC. conversely, many people switch back and foerth from Nikon to Canon and vice-versa; however, once you got $2000 worth of lenses, flash system, cables, remotes - you're not likely to switch unless your job pays for it.
FWIW, using my Nikon D100 (6 Megapixel DSLR) gives me great results and with tweaking using Photoshop Im pretty satisfied. However, for more critical work I do (details in highlights, shadows and ability to focus in dark), I'm waiting for Nikon to release their upgrade to their D700 model. It's been on the drawing board for awhile...but the economy and then the quake-tsunami and what-not I think has delayed the release of this important model.
Even now, I drool over the Nikon D700 but have held off upgrading to anything else for 2 yrs now. It has excellent sensitivity in low-light..one of the best at seeing in the dark without the image breaking up into ugly coarse digital noise. and catching action it's amazing. I just don't like their add-on accesory that allows vertical shooting grip/alternate battery. for me it's an essential and they mucked that up.
... But I digress (of course).