Matt,
I too heard the comments of "free distance" with a smaller sensor when I first looked at the Nikon set up. Even the sales person at my local store thought this was true. After some thought, I realized that the camera does not magnify but only crop. The higher resolving power of the D2X is needed as the same size image, shot with the same length lens, requires the Nikon user to back away from the subject. When the object is printed, the object must be further enlarged to fit on the same piece of paper. Kind of complex but best reviewed here:
http://www.naturfotograf.com/D2X_rev06.html
Thanks much!
Brad