T3i - not really that much better than original Rebel (300D)?

Olympus made excellent DSLR cameras and had good reviews for them from Dpreview. The problem was that Olympus decided (at one time) to only offer a 12mp $1700 (USD) flagship model as an upgrade (it was the Olympus E-5). I jumped ship to Canon, so that I could take better pictures in our typically cloudy and rainy climate (in the Pacific Northwest USA). I didn't want a heavy bulky flagship camera and found that the (approximately $500) 18mp Canon T2i (550D) camera was almost the same size & weight as my Olympus E-510. From memory I think there was only a 5 gram difference. Canon provides for people like me (starting out with a new system) excellent kit lenses. When I take pictures in a dark environment usually with cloudy or rainy weather...wow...my two Canon DSLR cameras really "shine".

Once I remember taking pictures while it was raining and my Canon DSLR camera came out miles ahead of my Olympus DSLR camera. But again, during sunny days the Olympus cameras are really good, so much that they continue to keep faithful & loyal owners attached to them. The older Canon DSLR cameras may be the same (like the 300D to the 450D). They may take some good or better pictures on sunny days at ISO100 or ISO200, but when it comes to taking pictures in a darker environment or where much higher ISO settings are required, the newer Canon DSLR cameras are also miles ahead. And of course there's more resolution and new features that we all know about too.

Again, if there's things you liked about the old camera, by all means, I think you should get one. The older cameras can be really good with the right conditions. A few times each year I do use my 8mp and 10mp Olympus DSLR cameras and show some of my photos from them on the Olympus SLR Talk forum, but usually only when I have good lighting. I could use them with poor lighting, but again my Canon DSLR cameras are just so much better in those conditions.