What about the 40d? I recently purchased one for dirt cheap and the controls are amazing... Makes shooting so much easier and also the shutter speed is ridic!
If you look hard, you can get a good conditioned 40d for around 600-675 for just the body of course.. I got mine for 600 flat, I was very lucky. People say that the 50d isnt much of an upgrade from the 40d, I really dont see the need for a video feature in a pre-professional camera. Try your local craigslist.