I upgraded my Epson V600 scanner to an Epson V850 Pro! Not affordable in the slightest, but still 1/3 the price of a CoolScan. Here's some comparisons. Stop dissing on flatbeds! :
Epson Perfection V600 Photo | www.shi.com
Epson Perfection V600 Photo Wired USB Connectivity Color Scanner - 6400 x 9600 dpi, Enlargements up to 17" x 22" Flatbed Image Scanner
Epson Perfection V850 Pro Scanner & FastFoto FF-680W Wireless High-Speed Photo and Document Scanning System, Black