Like you I started with Photography in the late 60's and into the 70's with various cameras but once I got my hands on a Leica M3, in 1972, nothing else worked for me. Fast forward to the middle 90's, without owning any camera from the middle 70's (Stolen and never replaced), and a desire to get back into photography.
I bought a cheap Pentax film camera and maybe shot 3 or 4 rolls of film through it. It then sat in a closet and is still there. Early 2000's I bought a Canon P&S Digital and really liked it but it just didn't give me what I was looking for.
In early 2005 I decided to buy a good camera and I first looked for a Leica. Nothing was really available in digital, at least nothing I wanted, from Leica so since I had used and like Nikon way back when I bought a D200 and various lenses, some good some cheap (sold the cheap stuff and kept the good stuff). But the D200 wasn't really cutting it for me. I then bought a used M3, actually at one time I had 4 of them, and 3 lenses, all used. Then I heard that Leica was coming out with a Digital M. Well I couldn't wait. I even thought about ordering one before they were even released. Then the problems with the M8 started to flood the internet forums right after it was release so I held off as long as I could. Once Leica came up with a fix and recalled all shipped cameras, whether they were in users hands or on store shelves, I said now is the time. That was in January 2006. I couldn't be more happy. It is just a pleasure to use and goes everywhere with me.
I now have 2 bodies and lenses from 21mm to 135mm, soon there will be a 18mm in my list of lenses.
All but one of my lenses are Leitz/Leica lenses the one that isn't is a CV 21mm f/4 Skopar M-Mount version. It is a great lens, especial for what it costs.
Good luck with whatever you decided.
Here are 2 versions of a image I shot today with the M8 and CV 21mm hand held @ f/4 1/60 ISO 640. First one is what came out of the camera and the second is PP through ACR & Photoshop CS3.
View attachment 598
View attachment 599