Hey Daruma, thanks for the advice. So, is Sony high end camera good? Is 1000D definitely a winner over the LX3 in every aspects except size and weight?

Regards.

Please remember that LX-3 is a copy of Leica D-Lux-4. It's not like Panasonic doesn't want to release a successor. Unless Leica announce D-Lux-5, don't put your expectation on LX-4.  We still don't know what package mFT (G1, anyone?) and Fuji EXR comes with.  I doubt there would be any F2.0, 24mm anytime soon.
For quality, 1000d is much superior than LX3. If you are looking for all-occasion camera, especially for people and action, better take LX3. You definitely won't want to miss those candid moment.  It's not that dslr can't achieve that, just that compact is easier to manuever, less attention and hence more natural shoot. Just my 2 cents. 

goin to COD with seller "imbloodysick" tomorrow morning....counting the days heheh

between...this is the 1st camera i bought, confirm i need to burn the midnight oil to go through the whole manual book...hope that sifu here can enlighten me =)

the manual actually quite thin only

200 pages =="

My new LX3 lens cap