I traded in a strom 1000 for my GS. The clutch hammer at idle was a bit annoying, pull the clutch in and it dissapears.
Engine is a belter when it get's spun up above 4 grand pulls well, probably stronger than the GS at the top end.
Headlights are fantasic, 2 bulbs! don't really need main beam. No wonder everyone is upgrading the GS headlight to HID you get the same amount of light as the strom then!
I found it very comfy on my trip to Pisa last year. Can sit all day at 80-90 without any problems / buffeting. The saddle has probably got a 2.5 - 3 hour range.
Fuel gauge lies as others have stated, I just used the trip and started thinking about fuel at about 180 miles. But that's no different to the GS (I chickened out the other day when I had done 35 miles after the range thing said I was out).
Engine casing paint was coming off in one place. I guess that you get a little blemish and it spreads. This was while running the bike through the winter.
The service interval is only 3500 miles which is a bit of a pain. I had the thing serviced before I went to Pisa and did 2800 miles and it was practically due another service.
The centre stand / heated grips were all optional extras on the earlier ones. I think the tourer version came out in 04 and you get those as standard along with the luggage.
All in all I was pretty happy with it but I had a bit of a windfall and made the mistake of test riding the GS and had to have one..