[lbam]

From my understanding, there are still schools out there that teach photography.
This (also from my understanding), was where the K1000 had it's niche, beginners.
If Pentax came out with a modern equivalent, I'd like to see it be low cost - not low ability.
The photographic potential should be reached by the user learning his/her trade.
So...

low asking price
Pentaprism.
no, no brainer picture program modes.
Shake reduction (I just think it would to sell a camera without it in the future (you can always turn it off!)
in body screw drive (but SDM support also)
small size preferably
tough no nonsense body
package including access code to Pentax online skill workshops (I know they don't exist yet! lol)

Oh yes, and call it a K1000(D)

Selling something like this might be a tough sell over a Nikon D40 for example, that's why it would need to be a package with training or some kind of support. To make it THE de-facto "my1st DLSR" would require some thought and clever marketing perhaps... but Pentax has it's legacy, and support of old (quality) manual focus lenses as justification for it to be number 1 in this niche.

Just thinking out loud...

Perhaps they could sell a similar version with the picture program modes to intro the Pentax system to people that just want to shoot with a "big lens" :-P. (no offense ment)