It's not overwhelming at all. Just get the Nikon and be done with it. I'd go D70/80/200 depending on budget. You can generally get an inexpensive Nikon zoom as part of a kit that will be a perfectly acceptable general use lens. Then get a Nikon 60mm Micro. You're done. If you really want to do it right out of the gate, get the 18-200 VR zoom and the 60mm or 105mm Micro. That'll cover 99% of anything you'll ever shoot.
http://www.nostatic.com/photos/park7may06/
lo res versions shot with the D70/105Micro combination...no tripod.