Got a 350D, wouldnt want anything less than an EOS from now-on, to be honest.
They are proper - you click the button and theres no lag, it just takes a picture. The battery lasts.. well, I dunno.. never flattened it yet while out taking pictures. And Ive been away ~4/5 days without the charger, using the camera (with an IS lens) extensively.
Battery charge wise, its got loads left after I fill the 1GB card (~300 pics) so I think your going to see more than 400/500 out of a battery. Need more? get the battery grip and have 2 batteries.
Then theres the list of lenses fit to it... thats, err.. every lens canon have made since they went EF (> 20yrs ago) Its also compatible with the new EF-S lenses, so thats good, as its not going to be out of date. the camera will fail or youll want to upgrade anyway before canon stop supporting it.)
That and the fact the canon has a sockin great big CMOS sensor, so you can effectively use ISO 400 without worry, and ISO 800 aint bad either. if your desperate, you can use the highest setting: 1600, although do expect noise there.
That and you have to wait nearly 2 seconds for the Olympus to boot up - lame, you might miss a picture there. The 350D rocks, Id lost some shots if I had to wait for it to boot - instant-on, it really is. I cant beat it.. ive tried turning it on and pressing the shutter button as soon as I can and it takes the pic.. Ive not managed to catch it out!
ignore the nearly 3FPS for 27 images. some sites say 14.. I have found it takes pictures in its nearly 3FPS for as long as I hold the shutter. Ive an 80x Lexar CF card in there.
Any other questions you may have, ill be happy to answer about the 350D - cant rate it highly enough really.
Had an olmypus before it, easier menus perhaps... but the 350D is built in a way that you barely need to ever look at one, and you cant get easier than that