...just because Panasonic really listen to their customers and they dont try to dictate their own vision.
Just see what they achieved with the AG-DVX100A, they responded to all his users requests.
Plus, Panasonic were the very first to understand that there is no big reason to maintain a great quality gap between prosumer and professional equipment. There is a big big market for relatively low cost equipment, much bigger than broadcast taken alone.
I was at NAB and got to witness first hand HD over firewire.
I couldn't believe it and had to go back and forth between the Apple booth and the Panasonic booth to look at the hardware up close and ask tons of questions...
It appears to be very much for real.
The Panasonic deck is the Model 1200...DVCPRO-HD.
Final Cut Pro upgrade to HD is free if you have FCP 4.
I'm buying my G5 dual ASAP.