Hello all -- it's been a while!

It's about that time to get a new digital SLR. I had a DRebel for a while, but have since parted. Currently I have only a Canon Elan 7e -- a film camera. So, while purchasing an SLR seems like an easy task, it certainly isn't. I was set on the XTi for a price tag of $560 for the body until I went to the store and picked it up. It's tiny, and I'm a pretty big guy! I'm also iffy about the light body. It feels much lighter than even the 300D.

I'm definitely looking for something sub-$800, but I'm also looking for something with a decent feel, more along the lines of my Elan (or 10D, as I remember). The Nikon D80 has a great feel, but it borders the price constraint, and would require switching to a different system (read: buying a new lens). I could look for a used 20D (do they even have new ones anymore?) -- but with all of these nice bells and whistles and giant LCD screens, it's tempting to look elsewhere.

Can anyone chime in on how "professional" (compared to what I mentioned above) the XTi feels with the battery grip?

Can anyone comment on whether or not the XTi for $560 vs. the 20D for $560 is a stupid question to be asking?

*I shoot mostly street, and I travel a lot. In April I brought my Elan and DRebel to Morocco, and found myself waist deep in surf, sliding down sand, and climbing a canyon in 105F heat. Although a majority of what I do is less 'bumpy.' Shutter speed, fps...Doesn't matter.

Again, great to be back and see regulars still posting. Feel free to point me in the direction of previous threads (a search was done).

-Jared

*And I'm the idiot that put this in the wrong forum. Mod?