As a canon user for the past few years, I can only offer advice on them;
I have owned a 300D and a 350D and have found them both great to use. They are so easy to start using straight from the box, instantly getting good results. I think the kit lenses that were sold with them were very poor quality and have since started using sigma lenses and will in future consider body only cameras. The boxed software is also good.
Having seen the difference some good lenses can make, I would say that despite offering that canon make great cameras, the glass you are to use is almost of greater importance than the camera.
Regards,
Damian Kimmins