Nikon D90 or D300? Opinions wanted

[Tom Dibble]

I can either get the D90 or D300, and of course I'm torn as to what to do. I hear they both have similar ISO capabilities, but frankly, the photos I've seen online from the D90 look a little soft for some strange reason. So I'm leaning toward the D300 for just a few hundred more. BUT, I am wondering if it will be too much camera for me as I am still learning. I heard they don't have any scene modes, but I never use them anyway. Is it a hella complicated camera to learn or is the learning curve for use on par with the D80? (That's what I have now.) I take a ton of low light photos so that's the primary reason I am considering upgrading my camera.
Thanks for any help, opinion, insight...
DSF

Not a Nikon guy so I won't comment on which is better, but as for "soft" pictures ...

There are two causes of soft photos:

1. The lens.

2. The photographer.

Neither of those is the body of the camera, and both are correctable to some degree I suspect the "softness" you are seeing is a result of whatever the D90's kit lens is, not of the body itself.