Welcome Sven-
The *ist d is my first digital slr, so I have nothing to compare it to. I have to admit, though, that besides the fact that the blocks the cf door, I have very little to complain about. I think my brother said it best, that the difference between Pentax and other prosumer dslr's are it's flexibility-no little painted heads or firworks on the dial
I have been happy with the relatively low price of prime lenses (I have spent less than $500 on 2 - 35mm f2 and 50mm f1.4) that compliments the kit and sigma 70-300 I have. I wish, though, that Pentax lenses were more readily available locally.