Originally posted by Clavius Different people want/need different things. YOU might think the Sony 16MP APS-C sensor is the very best there currently is, but someone else might think the Sigma Foveon (just a random example) is much better. To revert back to the car-analogy, some might think the petrol Engine of the Touareg is the very best, but I would find diesel to suit my needs much better. A bit of a waste to keep those customers out of your store, don't you think?
On the other (lower) end of the spectrum, shouldn't there be a much lower tier DSLR with cheaper sensor in the Pentax lineup too? (A K300?) Pentax probably would make much more money on that category then any of their middle and higher tier product lines. (Not to mention getting them hooked on Pentax and seeing those customers back when they upgrade.)
Analogies are dangerous, and rarely relevant
Yes, I believe the Sony 16MP is the best APS-C sensor currently on the market, and the 24MP sensors (Sony and Toshiba), while very good, are not better IMO.
Foveon has some very significant advantages, but also drawbacks (one of them being that it's only available in Sigma cameras).
Yes, I think a cheaper DSLR (but not necessarily with a cheaper sensor) would be a good idea.