A true test to this would be to take the exact same photo with a p&s and a dslr and post it here, strip the EXIF data and let's see if we can spot the difference. I would do it but I don't know how to strip EXIF data, I can only read it.
jdeg, I understand the point you are trying to make, however, in the skilled hands of someone who knows what they are doing, (don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you or anyone else in this thread doesn't have skills) I don't think you're going to be able to tell. Which drives home the point that it's the person, not the camera.
If we are going to compare apples to oranges here then the same statement is going to hold true if you compare the D3x vs the D3000. One has better hardware than the other. So if I upgrade to a D3x (ROTFLMFAO) I'm going to take better pictures because of hardware, I'm sorry I can agree to that. But I can agree that the hardware will HELP me take better photos.
Curt, I agree, this can be pondered endlessly, so why don't we "Mythbuster" this thing.
Oh, what did I get myself into now, I got to learn to keep my mouth shut LOL