DIfficult to see how any camera can be worth £10k Neil, but I stand to be corrected!
Within the Canon range od DSLR's (the only ones I have any experience with) there are three separate ranges. The entry level cameras are all the 450D, 500D, 550D etc, the mid level range aimed at slightly more advanced amateurs are all denoted 40D, 50D, 60D etc, and the professional ones are 4D, 5D, 5D Mk II etc. They also now have a low-entry level model in the 1000D.
The price difference between these ranges are quite marked, with the entry levels being about £350 for the 1000D, £600 for the 550D, £750 for the 60D and £1600 for the 5D. It's worth noting the 60D and 5D Mk II are prices for the body only; lenses are extra!
The main difference in the ranges is build quality (magnesium bodies on the higher end models, and plastic on the lower ranges) and sensor quality. There are also big differences in the internal image processing hardware, meaning, for example, that the lower end models may only be able to capture a couple of frames a second in burst mode, whereas the upper ranges can take many more.
None of this means that the lower price models take poor pictures, they don't, but there are big differences when compared to the more expensive models.
£10k though? I doubt it!