Reaper,
Let's get things straight. Whichever camera you plan to buy, bear in mind that you are not actually buying a camera. You are buying a system (lenses, flash and accessories). Once you stuck, you basically stuck forever. So, please think carefully. I prefer Nikon because of its special lens coating. In terms of mechanical stuff, Canon beats Nikon hands down. They are the leader in IS, SWM and what not. Their lenses can already focus very fast coupled with the latest image stabilizer technology when Nikon was still struggling to make a non-rotating barrel. That's why if you notice sports photographers prefer to use Canon. On the other hand, Nikon is a bit lagging when it comes to this stuff. That is not a major concern to me since I normally shoot landscapes and people. If you ask me, why Nikon? It is the lens. Canon makes everything from photocopier to printers. Nikon - strictly lenses (eyeglasses included).
Don't think 'which camera?', think 'which system?'.