I like your reasoning here (and how you buy lenses,,,, Dad ) and I have let my son use a P&S ( and a phone when he was around 2, and even created his own account at zooomr.com then (
Photos from Jun9n | Zooomr Photo Sharing ) and the most trouble he had then and now was looking at the screen to frame the shot. Ugh ugh, ok, so maybe a DSLR might be in his near future. Good idea really. He ain't gettin no K200D and no Ltds either though. So what to get my 5yr old? Maybe a K2000/K-m or K100D? If my son sees this thread though, he will probably start a change.org petition to stop cruelty to children and to get himself adopted by Mr. dgaies.
One a side note, I just glanced at the camera database to see what to suggest here, and noticed that the first *ist D looks freakin awesome, so want one now. Suppose they never pop up. Lots of DS and DLs though, that little first one looks great. want want want. Going to blam dgaies for this now too