Finally did what I'd been threatening... picked up a Canon 40D with 17-85 IS USM lens.
Debated long and hard over this and the 400D and decided on the 400D because of the extra cost. Went to the shop to get the 400D, tried it out and just didn't feel right in my hands. I've been used to a EOS 5 (35mm film) which is a hefty bit of kit. However, the 400D felt even smaller than my first SLR which was a EOS 1000fn.
Asked to try the 40D, left the shop to think about it and went back today to have another try with both models.
I'm now sitting at home, waiting for the battery to charge up so I can fire up the 40D, and give it a hammering over the next few weeks. The 40D feels a lot closer to my EOS5 in terms of size, shape, weight, has the control wheel on the back like the EOS5, and even the shutter sounds satisfyingly like my EOS5. Only thing that's missing is eye-controlled focus, but I can live with that.
Sat, how are you getting on? What I found really useful when I started, was to get a few books on the subject for ideas. You know the sort that just has shitloads of pics and you can pickup in a surplus bookstore like "The Works" for under £10. Certainly helped me to look at things differently to how you normally do.