Thank you all for your replies and insights. Fpp, I did read much of that mammoth thread, and could not get any clear consensus, as you predicted. That is why I posed this question in as straightforward a manner as I could.

My gut is telling me to go for the 800, with one thing still holding me in check...the hard cover. I love the cover on the 770, and even though it has only a small impact on usability (screen power-off) it has a big impact on durability IMO.

Anyone else want to chime in?