Cant go wrong with a dig slr i have a rebel dslr and love it.
The camera will only be as good as you are.Learn to use the manula modes and semi manual vs the auto you will get better pics and experiment and learn since you dont use film but a flash card.Try different settings with the camera to see how pics come out.
I like to use the av mode setting with my 75-300 lens anyhere from a 8-14 f stop(or aperture) on sunny days.But also like to keep shutter speed at least 250 and up for action shots.If a cloudy day you can bump the iso up to 400 which is better for low light but higher the iso the grainier a pic can look so keep it as low as you can i have gone to 1600 here and there(max) for indoors.If it is a cloudy day and i am doing motorsports i bump to 200 or 400 so i can still get a fast shutter speed and still use atleast an 8 f stop on my 75-300 lens vs a sunny day when i can get the same with a 100 iso setting.The TV mode on the dial also works good you pick the shutter speed you want and it sets the appropiate f stop for the conditions too
Read the instructions good and play like i said that camera has alot of potential just need to know how to use it.Many buy the 20d or better thinking they have a superior camera but dont have the brains to use it to its full potential and get lousy pics vs a skilled user on a lesser camera