"Don't like CMOS sensors that need AA filtration degrading the IQ either."
Marc, this is a Hall Of Fame Quote. I've fought that fight for way too long myself, and not going to be sad seeing it go. For me, nothing looks as close to film as a CCD sensor without an AA filter. Only Leica seems to agree with us.
Low ISO = Low Noise. I shoot as low as I can possibly get by with. Even using noise reduction processing techniques or noise removal plugins the color always goes to smush, so why bother?
Ditto on the ambient shooting and leaving the flash home. If I want blown out highlights or faces with big white circles on them, screaming white circles of light on background walls complete with hard edge black shadows, or crazy catch-lites in the eyes I will put 'em in myself in post. Or set them up deliberately if they are to be used as a creative technique. I don't need the surprises at the computer doing the post workup either that using a shoe flash always provides....
Get decent with practice at shooting hand-held down to 1/8th, and with a fast lens it won't matter a whit anyway. You may not nail many at 1/8th to start off with, and yes it does take time to learn and master the tricks to do it consistently, but the ones you do nail are pure magic. Also just think, once you get decent at 1/8 then at 1/25th you will nail most all of them, and that is where you end up the majority of the time in my experience anyway. One of those "tricks" I spoke of above. Learning how to breathe properly is another.
I've never gotten that many keeper shots running around advertising by shooting flash. Those posed flash shots never seem to rank above the atmospheric and emotional moments ambient light provides either, in my selection, or my clients.
I also hate even the words "good enough." WTF is "Good Enough" anyway? Autofocus that lands ears half the time when you shot eyes? f/1.4 sharp forehead wrinkles and soft lashes? Got plenty of those in my rejected selections when I shot Canon. Of course, always the best ones too.... <Grin>. Give me manual everything and easy to change up when I need to. I'm smart enough for both myself and my camera, I don't need it competing with my own ego trying to show off it's intelligence (stupidity) at my image's expense!