Now I do not continue in Canon - Nikon discussion, I just want to add my opinion to several points.
1. Colour matters in my opinion for two reasons. First if the camera does not change it regularly, there is no formula/function to fix it. Second even when it does, all settings are in steps, which, although they are much refined compared to analog cameras, are still pretty rough. Due to various reasons I usually do not shoot fully manual, but use fixed shutter time, so I do have experience with these jumps. Additionally it is nice to say it will be fixed in post processing, it is fine when you have low number of pictures, but when I shoot hundreds of pictures on some action and people are looking for pictures, each additional step multiplies, plus I usually shoot during the weekend and go to the office on Monday, so not much time, than each additional post processing is a nightmare, it is enough what has to be done without it.
2. I assume Paul has Photoshop, which includes Camera Raw. I saw presentation by Deke McClelland saying that Camera Raw and Lightroom have exactly the same functions and handles, just a different interface, but the do exactly the same. I have never seen Lightroom, so I cannot judge, please correct me if I confused things, but if this is really the case I do not see any reason spend money for Lightroom.
3. I would be a bit cautious with third party lenses. ( Again, knowing Canon, but it is almost the same with Nikon from what I hear from Nikon friends, just either financial difference is larger or quality difference smaller, but in principle the same. ) It is very important to read reviews, sometimes the third party products lack in mechanical execution resulting in shorter durability, sometimes their optical quality varies among pieces, sometimes they do not cooperate with the camera in all functions as the natives do.
4. As the reason to stay I would put owning lenses to the first place, I see it the most.