Nikon certainly raised the bar. I think there is an "enthusiasts" level FF vs. "PRO." and 2k is somewhat the limit for the average joe enthusiast. Canon does have a great enthusiast sports camera - 7d, I don't think Nikon has an alternatve (I simply don't know the nikon product line that well). Canon has a great pro "event photographer" camera - 5dIII. I am not sure, from an event stand point the d800 is quite equal to 5dIII. Pro Sports camera - got to give it to Canon - the pro sport shooter doesn't give a hoot about the 2k difference. - 10 fps vs. 14 fps makes the money shot much more likely.
My point to all of this is that the Canon is missing the enthusiast landscape camera I think the d800 speaks to a slightly different audience than the 5dIII.
I don't need anything more than 4 or 5 fps, I would very much like some more resolution - Shortly, I will have 3x the cost of the body in glass - so make the body so I can harvest the value of the glass. Nikons new 70-200 has as good or better numbers as the Canon version, they are rumored to be introducing a new 24-70 that is in response to the Canon 24-70 mkII. From an enthusiast perspective - or at least mine - 2 uber resolution f2.8 zooms, set of exetension tubes, a 2x TC, D800 to harvest the resolution, relative small box of equipment that looks awfully powerful. Nope not taking it to the olympics - but just about anywhere else. I would dearly love to see Canon come out with a uber resolution body so that when I go to the olympics all I need to do is rent a 1dx body for the fps and take my glass.
I know Dan Browning (has anybody heard from him lately) jumped to Nikon. Hope he is doing well.