Nikon D50 still worth buying?

I've recently outgrown by Kodak point and shoot and have been looking to upgrade to a DSLR. I've been kind've looking into refurbs and used cameras as my budget is a bit tight. I found a Nikon D50 on Craigslist for sale for $350.00 USD including a Tamron 18 - 200 AF Macro lens. I don't know much about the D50 model (as I had been looking for something more along the lines of the D40). I do know (according to the seller) that this particular camera has less then 5, 000 shutter releases and is 4 and a half years old.

Is this camera still worth it to a beginner? Or has the D50 seen better days?

If the camera is in good shape, it is still a fine camera. With only 5, 000 shots on it, it is practically new. My much older D100 as over 220, 000 shots on it and is still working fine. It was made in 2002 and I used it professionally for just over 3 years. The D50 is about three years newer.

You will enjoy using it and the 18-200 mm lens will give you excellent range

I'd say it still is worth it, certainly at that price. The D50 is, IMO a better buy than the D40 because it's got a focus motor.

Compared to todays cameras the iso 1600 is a bit noisy and the monitor at the back is tiny. It misses gadgets like liveview. On the other hand, when I look at my flickr stream, quite a lot of my most popular pics were shot with a d50.

For example.

Yup worth buying, with new cameras coming out every few months, there's not huge improvements
mainly pixel count at the expense of noise, or live view, movie mode etc
just more scams to get your dosh