i have got friends who buy dslrs, not just the so called "entry levels", even extended to d90 and 7d, and most of them just buy and shoot in auto. i even know of someone who bought a used 300D and guess whats the first thing she did? camwhore with it!. not using it to camwhore, literally using it as a prop in the camwhore! :dunno:
at the same time, i have friends using pns taking better pictures than me
the thing i cant stand is how people associated dslr with "professional". when i tell my dad all the features this camera have over another, or how this lens is much sharper/better etc, he will go like "but you are not a professional, doesnt matter to you". im not saying that i need the latest high end bodies and L lenses, but you dont have to be a "professional" to use all those features in the camera.
i think the majority of bro's and sis here are united by a common passion: making and producing high quality and pleasant photographs which are an expression of our ideas and feelings. i hope everyone gets my point here. not everyone of us here is a "professional", not everyone of us knows how to use "manual mode" as well. but one thing im sure we want is :good quality images.
a creative eye for photography cant be bought, neither can the technical knowhow to operate the camera to acheive the scene in mind.
please note my post is not aiming at anyone, just a rant in general