fastuno wrote:-Images tend to come out soft out of camera. This improves with the quality of lens you buy (not all of us are willing to spend $1000-2000 on a lens!) Images improve after post processing.
-Bulky & expensive unit/system to carry around.
First, I don't think image softness out of the camera is a shortcoming -- it is a factor of the design of the camera. I shoot exclusively in RAW because I want ultimate control over the images I produce and I am prepared to spend time in Photoshop to get it. I do not want the camera imposing its idea of sharpness on my images. If you want sharp pics straight out of the camera, then shoot in JPEG and crank up the sharpness setting -- that's what it's there for. Sharpness is not just dependent on choice of lens.
As to bulky and expensive -- what do you expect? SLR systems are bulky by their very nature. One of the things that should be a factor in your decision to buy an SLR is it's size, weight and cost of ownership, especially if you are going to buy additional lenses, battery packs, flashes etc. If you want a camera that will fit in your shirt pocket and not break the bank, buy a point-and-shoot.
Sorry if this sounds aggressive, but to my mind, these are not shortcomings, they are just what goes along with buying a camera that is part of a semi-pro system.