The D700 + grip is bigger and heavier than the D3 is it not? So I read anyway. I also like the dust removal system of the D700 and the pop up flash is handy when I can't be bothered getting the SB-900 out. Horses for courses.
+1
Let's not forget, the pop-up flash on the D700 can
also be used to trigger your SB-900 when it's off the camera

(i.e. where it probably should be to get the most out of it

). Useful!
Still, the two cameras are clearly (I think) aimed at different users and shouldn't be seen as 'interchangeable according to budget' :shrug:. The D3 is a camera for
heavy use, where battery and memory capacity are an issue and where it needs to be operated quickly and without fuss in a range of challenging conditions. It's not dainty, it's not light and it doesn't make any concessions to price.
The D700, on the other hand, is better suited to 'hobby' shooting, or events where extreme battery life and super-fast handling are not pre-requisites (IMO). It's more compact than a D3 and even pretty well priced, when you compare it to it's smaller, plastic, DX brethren (as opposed to the professional D3 class). Sure, you can dress it up like a D3 using the MDB-10 grip and get a bit of added functionality (and a fair amount of weight), but it's not as ergonomic, the viewfinder image isn't as big and there aren't (I believe) as many direct access function buttons available - so, it's not really comparable :|.
As for prices, the D700 went up by nearly 20% last March (along with a lot of other stuff), so any examples that are older than that (like mine) were bought for less than the price that a few used ones have fetched recently

.
I would predict than when Nikon bring out their replacement (D800 :shrug:?) next year (or whenever), featuring HD video, dual memory card slots and possibly a different sensor (or whatever they have planned), we will see the prices of the D700 take an immediate hit and that will be the time for those who've hankered after one, but couldn't justify the 1,400-1,600GBP asking price for a used one, to pounce on one of the many that come onto the market at around the 1,000-1,200GBP mark

.
That said, I won't be selling mine,
whatever improvements Nikon make next time round (unless of course they halved the size, weight and price :bonk

.