Canons are awesome! There are newer models coming out (I think the A85 is already out) so that means that the older models are even cheaper! I think the overall quality is still the same, it's just a matter of megapixels (most people probably won't need anything higher than 2mp) and size of videos and such.

My next digital will be a Canon for sure. I also have a Sony DSC-T1 and hate it. It's 5mp but it doesn't even come close to my 2mp Canon.