If you're looking for a DSLR I would recommend Pentax for easy lens availability (there are thousands of lenses freely available for their K-mount cameras), the new Sony offering, essentially a rebranded Konica Minolta, also has some potential with regard to lenses... I wouldn't focus on mega pixels so much, quality glass makes the difference when it comes with DSLR's.
If you're just after a high quality point and shoot, and don't want to spend money on lenses (I have spent several times the cost of the body on lenses for different situtions since going DSLR) you're looking for a 'prosumer camera', essentially a highly involved fixed lens camera, that will give you the option of adjusting every feature you could adjust on a DSLR. In this market there are two standouts, the Sony DSC-R1, which is a fantastic camera I almost purchased, and the Panasonic FZ-30K, which is the camera I ended up buying and using for a few months before buying the Pentax DSLR. In the day time the Panasonic was a great camera, but at night it got a little too noisy for my taste - the Sony DSC-R1 has a larger sensor, so it would be less prone to this noise, DSLR's have even larger sensors, and offer the most flexibility, but you need to know what you're doing, and you will need to purchase lenses for them, which can cost significant money.
It depends on what your needs are... most photographers don't need, and really don't want, to buy a DSLR.
fwiw, the setup I use for most of my pictures is as follows...
Pentax *ist DL
Dicain Battery Grip
Tokina AT-X Pro 28-70mm 1:2.6-2.8
I also have lenses for macro, big zoom, and fisheye. The tokina is my 'walking around' lens. When I purchased the DSLR I bought the 'kit' out of instinct, eg something to learn on, but less than a week after getting the camera I bought the tokina, and haven't touched the kit lens since. When you buy the camera resist the urge to buy the kit, buy the body only, and snag something decent on ebay. For the Nikon series, when people buy the D50, the typical recommendation is to buy the D70's kit lens (which D70 owners tend to get rid of at their first opportunity).