sunset and landscape = tripod
same with macro...without one, the pics just arent as good as they could be.
in my honest opinion, if you're ready to put down $3k+ for a d700 then go ahead and do it, but just think...
three thousand dollars...
plus, youll need memory cards ($80?) extra batteries at $80/each, a good tripod cause you wouldnt put $3000 on a $20 piece of aluminum so theres another $150-600(?). lenses...well...depends on what you want...
i would say i have right around $1000 invested into photo stuff. BUT...i have tons of **** like 8 or so film cameras, scanner, development stuff, like 10 lenses, $130 bag, filters, flash and trigger and diffuser...it adds up pretty quick...even faster if you buy all new, all-auto stuff. it would make me sick to buy equivalent "new" lenses to what i have now

and also to be honest...we'd still make damn near the same pics.
so...if you're totally ready to put mad money down...it's your choice. just keep in mind that the most expensive gear won't give you magic...i dont mean this personally, but any SLR made today is more than capable. bad results come from the user. i should know...my camera is almost "pro" and i suck...it's all my fault, not the camera cause i tell it what i want it to do.
nikon's marketing strategy is working on you, just how they want. they lure you in with an expensive camera then sell you a little lower model. well...canon does this too, as do most companies in every industry. "the upgrade path" is a common nickname for it...giving you something to look forward to.
if i were you...i'd start with a simple 8-10MP cam like a used canon 20/30d or nikon d70/80. figure out what lenses you might like in the future, pick a brand, figure out how to use it, and then you'll get a clear picture on what you really NEED instead of WANT

also consider pentax for landscape use...weather sealed bodies and lenses that are affordable, built-in IS/VR (known as Shake Reduction) for those times without a tripod, and best of all: amazing colors. dont let anyone fool you...pentax has most of the lenses you'd ever want/need...or sigma/tamron fill in the weird spots like the 8mm fish-eye.