I teach photography at a college level and adult education classes, and it amazes me that guys (typically in the adult education program) that come in with thousands dollars worth of equipment and their pictures look like crud when viewing thier homework. They don't take the time and effort to learn the basic concepts of your camera (ISO/Aperature/Shutter) nor any of the rules of composition (thirds, diagnals, s curve) I could go on here but I won't.
A million dollars worth of equipment in the hands of an idiot will yield terrible picutres.

When I taught my first class I never allowed my students to have anything nicer than a pentax k1000 (oh the good ol' film days) . You must learn the basic and fundamentals. I think of Ken rockwell (www.kenrockwell.com) and he is the biggest proponent of the d40 from Nikon for that very reason.