What Chris said about changing lenses. Always always always always always always turn the camera OFF before doing it.

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It varies depending on the individual. One of the most experienced (40 years+) and serious photographers I know can natter on about equipment all day. Perhaps because, whilst experienced, he has a limited budget (being retired) so is rightly interested in getting the most for his money when it comes to gear. (He certainly doesn't look down on Pentax as that's where he started with film photography, but changed to Canon when he went digital.)

Not so sure about the pitying looks. Interested, confused, perplexed, perhaps.

I've had one Nikon user pick up my camera just to preview some of my shots on the LCD. He ended up turning it around in his hand, prodded a few buttons, took a look through the viewfinder, felt the weight etc. then remarked "Wow, this thing is really solid, I'd never have expected such good build quality on such a small camera!" - Can't remember what model Nikon he was using, but it was huge.

I've had another (also a Nikon user) ask me, in all seriousness "You seem to know quite a lot about the technical stuff, so why would you choose Pentax?" When I asked why I wouldn't choose Pentax, the explanation again in all seriousness was that 'everybody knows' Canon and Nikon make better lenses...

According to the mighty Wikipedia: 'Modal is a cellulose fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose, often from beech trees. It is about 50% more hygroscopic (water-absorbent) per unit volume than cotton. It takes dye like cotton and is color-fast when washed in warm water. Modal is a kind of rayon.'

Sounds quite possible to photograph. Might even get some interesting results with a Macro Lens.

I'm holding out for a Spongebob Squarepants version.

Actually I have always gotten pretty good customer service at PC World. The Jessops staff I have encountered, OTOH, don't even seem to know what either of the words 'customer' or 'service' mean.

...Or at least they have their own definitions of these terms. Something along the lines of:

'Customers' = annoying people who hang around the shop and keep trying to interrupt my chit-chat with my colleagues about what we got up to on the weekend.

'Service' = Chit-chat with my colleagues about what we got up to on the weekend and ignore these pesky 'customers' until they give up and go away.

I'm inclined to think that if people's opinions are so ill-informed they should keep their mouths shut. This goes times 100 for people in a position to influence the decisions of others (such as a Jessops sales assistant).

I try to steer clear of expressing opinions on things I know nothing about - and in my particular job I'm NOT ALLOWED to express personal opinions even on things I know a great deal about. To break this rule is quite literally a sackable offence. (I work in the financial services industry, where expressing opinions could be construed as giving advice, which is against FSA regulations and can land individuals and companies in pretty big trouble). The Jessops guy should try doing my job for a while. It's a great way to teach you to keep your mouth shut.

Although I'm one of the (seemingly) few who like the appearance of the K-01, I do tend to agree from a usability point of view. Pentax's engineers got the ergonomics of the K-5 almost perfect. It's a damn good looking camera too (and a lot more people seem to agree on that point than with the K-01). Having done such a great job with the K-5, I'm not sure why Pentax didn't just let the same folks design the K-01.

No, it doesn't. Not even remotely. You might as well compare a moped with a Land Rover and moan that the Land Rover is much too big. Your statement is extremely silly.