Paul, I have the D300s matched with a dream lens, at least for me. I love the setup. Very glad to have it but it does seem indulgent for my amateur uses. I could get by fine with the D90 or D200 and the same lens but I appreciate and value what the 300 offers. I would buy it again so long as it wouldn’t stretch the budget and cause excessive domestic unrest. (I got by with eye rolls at the time of purchase.) If I wanted to cut corners somewhere, I would go with the lens (in my case a 24-70 2.8) and the more affordable body. I am in the Cotswold area if you want to stop by sometime and check it out.
Here is a picture that reflects the potential of the set up:
It can use some work – straightening and whitening the teeth, maybe a closer crop – but otherwise I like it and have convinced myself that the right equipment (good lens, better sensor than I had before on my D70, quick auto focus, multiple FPS) helps me get the results I am after, even as a relative hack. Truth be told, however, I have some great shots off my old D70, as well. Good equipment helps, but I don’t think you can buy your way to great results.