Steve,
Let's not beat this to death, but I have four pros as clients and all own and use Leicas for personal stuff, Hassy and Sinar and Linhof for work. They have to be well-heeled to be buying my stuff. It may come as a shock to you, but pros don't come to the Leica Forum much. They are out making $$$.
How many pros do you know? I only know about 20, but I don't make a living with pictures. I'm fairly friendly on a personal level with maybe five here who will buy M8s. As M-users they are not fussed about having to take the v/f from their eye to change ISO's either. Just not the "M way", and that IS Leica's take on the matter.