when you recommend something to a person, do it from his POV and from his wallets POV. you and me might know the D7100 has better controls and a built in motor, but the difference between the D7100 and D5300 is $300. a person might have scraped just enough to get only the D5300 or the D7000 and youre telling him add more when he might not have 1 cent more. always recommend what they need, not what you need.
for the price of a new D7100, id tell him go for a used D700 over the D7100. superior in every way. but since he asked between D5300 or D7000 I will recommend he D5300.
OP has a D3200 which is a fine pc of kit....is a D5300 a huge upgrade? I don't think so, it doesn't have the prosumer features I mentioned. Slight upgrade, sure it is a nice camera I would love to have one.
I should have responded in my first post wait until you can afford at least a D7100 which is a much better camera. To repeat the D7100 also allows again the purchase of AF D glass (D7000 does this too as do D300, D300s) allowing the OP to acquire pro level glass down the road for cheap money.
Agree on the D700 - I passed up multiple D7100 deals to go that route....but I have zero interest in video. The D700 isn't for everyone.
Bottom line is we are all just trying to guess what the OP wants and needs.
Perhaps in the future I will just shut up.