A bit late to the V Strom Debate...
I have had a 1000 since late 2011 and think its a great bike... Its an 02 so doesn't have a couple of upgrades... It has 50 odd thou miles on and apart from the sometimes rattly clutch "chudder" it's smooth and and runs very well... I remember them coming out and thinking with my GS snobbery "another copy" but now know there are plenty of alternatives to GS's...
Good bits... Great engine, pretty good build quality, good gearbox, great reliability, quick and with the right set up very "chuckable"... Great brakes and can be loaded with gear, very comfy on a run and naturally a good shape for 6'6" me...
Average bits... Not as service friendly but with a couple of cheap mods this can be made easier... Some bits of build and design are a bit "Suzook"... Not quite as good as a BM for weather protection...
Cheaper mods on mine done by a previous owner... Hyperpro front springs which make it far more sporty... Braided lines for great braking... Suzook/givi top box which is very good and doesn't totally bugger the handling... Heated grips...
I have fitted a taller DIY screen and jacked it up with different links... I use soft panniers which go well with its very slim filtering profile... I fitted a cheap TRE which makes it much sharper in low revs... Shorter gearing for better usability in all 6 gears...
For what I paid it is a really good bike... It can handle some really shitty weather long distance touring and makes you ride like a twatty hooligan if you want...
There are loads of other bikes about but I have a soft spot for the Strom... It can get high 40's mpg if you try or dip into the 30's if you get possessed...
It filters like a smaller bike and is sooo much narrower than a GS to avoid things... The injection behaves most of the time and doesn't leave you with the splutters at slow speeds like some GS's can... My girlie thinks it is tons better for pillions than the GS and likes the fast forward button...
The engine/gearbox's seem genuilnely lifetime reliable if you want and this part of GS's can easily be overrated...
Get a chain oiler (I have a cheap Lubeman which is great as you don't have to buy the resupplies...)...
Great allround bike and a ton of fun if you want...