well, here is another good reason not to buy photoshop…
you can make quick normal maps in GIMP now 8)
http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/normalmap/
BTW, if you dont like the GIMP interface you can make it into a Photoshop clone by going here:
http://plasticbugs.com/index.php?p=241
plus, you can share it with your friends without commiting a felony 
If you are a Student, that will be seeking employment in the future, you should get photoshop… that is a requirement on lots of jobs…
I love the gimp. There’s so much that it can do that I have no clue about though.
I know that the layer system is powerful. And after reading about how Meats Meier does various rendering passes and them composes them in photoshop I was wondering if that’s possible in gimp, and also how you would do that.
Gimp is good, but I have to check how far it goes comapred to photoshop.
With gimpshop, its amazing, almost for free…
well, I am not sure if you can do a DOF filter in gimp…
you can open the .PSD files though, and I am quite sure the alpha is in tact…
I have troubles associateing the PSD files with gimp, sometimes I have to drag and drop the Icon onto the gimp tool pallett…
Photoshop is definately the best application for 2d stuff…
but if you dont got the $$$, GIMP and GIMPSHOP are still free, and it will do most common 2d editor tasks…