[nicks]

I wouldn't let the lack of a dSLR hold you back. I had that frame of mind before I got mine, and yet one of the most popular photos I have on flickr is one I shot with my pocket Pentax. It's all about shooting what you see. Don't let the lack of a high end camera hold you back from taking a photo. Wish I'd had this insight before...

That being said, there are of course many options that open up to you with a dSLR. But in the end, it's just another tool to capture an image with.

Definitely don't let others dictate what you try. Let them look I say. Yeah, it may be uncomfortable at times, but that's the price of taking a unique photo. OF NOTE - if you're photographing strangers, you may want to explain your intentions...maybe after the fact to preserve the real life moment you wanted to capture. You never know, you may meet some cool people and gain some followers of your photography along the way!