christian.rudman
digital to analog convert
First I'll deal with the autofocus situation you mentioned in your other post. I think a manual focus camera can still be regarded as a professional's tool provided that's what they want ... and you can still be a professional and never need to shoot sports or anything else that requires AF. It depends what area you work in I guess. I personally don't need AF but I do need high ISO capability so I use a D700 which I focus manually, always with primes.
If Leica can come up with a camera as user friendly and as unobtrusive as the M9 is and also give it the ability to produce clean images at 3200 or better it will be one hell of a tool and even at the price you mentioned I would personally have to consider it. It's a lot of money yes ... but if it does the job you want done without fuss and it's going to earn your living for you ... the price is just what you have to pay.
Save for what may happen with the D4, primary reports of the low light capabilities of the X-Pro1 are beyond current DSLRs, and are completely useable up to an 11x17 print at 25,600 ISO, which is the extent of the cameras range. Far out performing the 5D MkII and D700 even at 12,800. So you might have to change your tool soon for that situation here soon, and save a few bucks over any of your other current options.