Is it true that the new digital cameras are as good or even better than photos produced on film?
no. on the basis that film can definitely contain more data (latitude) than digital camera - which until today cannot match film. if that is the short answer you are looking out for. though this is something that may change in far future, as it is more of a factor of technology and cost of production, whereas the physical restrictions of film may not change.
digital have much more versatility than film, becos it is not locked to the physical trait of the film in terms of ISO, film color characteristics etc. there are plenty of discussions on this, and generally it goes down to the familarity to their tools, just like one is used to speaking english and one is used to speaking chinese, their difficulty to learn the other language is not becos of the language itself is difficult. apart from that, digital photography has taken over film as the more convinient medium, with film being now a niche market for those who is after a certain feel or effect.
and another myth. while film photography can be less automated and more difficult to learn/use, they do not necessarily make better photographers or produce better photographs. it depends on the photographer, his resouces, his tools, the subjects/environment, the timing and pure luck. it is yet another myth that only the photographer matters, and not the other factors described earlier.
Able to preview the photos taken on a digi cam and then save them or discard them, with a film camera once u have taken the photo that's it. Unless u have a dark room to develop the photos u need to take them to some film store and get them developed and if they are no good well too bad.
Actually the above reason is good enough as to why digi cams are better than film cameras.
Second reason: Privacy of the photos. Suppose you do not want a 3rd party to view your photos. Again unless you have your own dark room, a person with a camera that uses film will need a store to develop them. A person with a digital cam does not need that.
the reason that digicam is better than film for you, may not be the most impt reason for other people, and not even "in general"
the same why some people want to lug a DSLR rather than a compact, is similar to why some ppl use film over digital. they are willing to go a futher effort for what they want but which may not be what i want.
as for the privacy thingy, most ppl have no problems of having their photos seen by people, and in fact would love to share them. of cos, if u do espionage, different story.