Help a noob choose a camera

basically a copy pasta from 1337's sticky thread up there^, but would probably get more/faster responses if i made thread. so..

1) What is your budget? How much money can you spend right away, and do you think you can get more money to invest in the future?

around NZ$3000, and yes.

2) What experience do you already have with cameras? Have you ever even used one before? Have you helped your friend out with his camera? Have you owned your own?

have used ones before, still at a beginner level though

3) What gear, if any, do you currently have? (tripod, old camera lenses, mics, etc)

none

4) What are you planning to shoot and how do you want to use your camera? Are you going to use this with the sole purpose of shooting skiing? or do you think you might try other stuff as well (movies, documentaries, short films, etc)

mainly photography and short films/edits, skate edits/possibly ski edits. i will probably want to venture into those other areas too

5) Do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming?

yep, dont see why not.

6) When filming skiing, how do you tend to shoot? (follow cams, leave it on record on a tripod and hike, film from a tripod, etc)

all of the above/no preference (yet)

7) What computer do you currently have/use to edit (if not currently editing, what would you most likely use)? If you can provide specifics, such as hard drive space, RAM, processor size, that would be great.

Toshiba Satellite L500D, 2.1 GHz AMD Athlon X2, 320 gb hard drive, 4 gb RAM

8) What program do you currently edit on? How familiar are you with it (1- just learning; 10- I can make tutorials and know the keyboard layout)

Sony Vegas 10, about a 5.

---------------------------Optional Section, for those seeking a more intensive upgrade/purchase------------------------
1) Do you think you might consider using a DSLR?

a DSLR would be preferable

2) Do you have any knowledge about the HDSLRS?

not really, i would like to learn though

3) Do you know the limitations to using HDSLRS?

nope

4) Are you willing to take the time to learn about a DSLR, and how to shoot with manual lenses?

absolutely.

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks M&A!