I have a Nikon D40 that I've had for 7 years and it's still going! It hasn't even been babied at all - I've spent full days photographing horse shows in dusty indoor and outdoor arenas. It's had a lot of use and I must say I'm so impressed that's it's lasted me this long.
I have very little experience with DSLRs, but I went Nikon after playing with my friends' entry level Canons and not finding them overly user friendly. The D40 was much easier for me to get the hang of as a beginner photographer. I have been impressed enough with my D40 that I'm hoping to get a new Nikon next year, although I wouldn't necessarily pass up a Canon if I got a good deal and had an opportunity to try it first.
I'm hoping to make the upgrade to a D7000 this year (largely because of the lack of an internal focus motor) so I'm glad to hear that you like it!
I have very little experience with DSLRs, but I went Nikon after playing with my friends' entry level Canons and not finding them overly user friendly. The D40 was much easier for me to get the hang of as a beginner photographer. I have been impressed enough with my D40 that I'm hoping to get a new Nikon next year, although I wouldn't necessarily pass up a Canon if I got a good deal and had an opportunity to try it first.
I've had Nikons since 2008, so only six years. I loved my D40. The only reason I sold it was because it wasn't good in low light at all and I had no choice but to buy autofocus lenses for it because the body didn't have an internal focus motor. But it was a fantastic camera and I still regret selling it. Then I bought a D90 and hated it. Mine was a lemon and had issues from the get go. I thought it was me, so I never returned it in time, but I wish I had. It didn't focus properly, was slower than it should have been, etc. Now I have a D7000 and really like it. I think I liked my D40 more still for some reason, but I can't complain about my D7000 and will not be upgrading from it unless something happens. I think I've had it for two years now and it still works the same way now as when I got it. No problems at all.