Are you using your macro for closeups?

Are you cropping the images so you only get what you want?

Are you resizing?

Do you have a foto-editing software so you can SHARPEN your images. Photoshop has all that AND an ability to SAVE your file at a higher jpg rate. That means, the image will look better. A long time ago, Outrider said, "gee whiz, your images have gotten sharper." Now, I had been doing the same old thing for years but he was referring to specific shots that I had done thru Photoshop. For those few shots, I had upped the option of making the shot clearer (different than SHARPEN).

Cuz the fact is, you don't have to shoot REAL close to get close ups. It's good chances you are shooting at a fair distance so when you crop it, the image will be blown up to your target area. That'll make your close-ups look decent. I do it all the time in my dios. However, I do use MACRO but I know I can shoot several inches away. About the furtherest distance possible. 24" or something like that? 16"? I don't remember.

Otherwise, consider what you want to do with your camera in general. I mean, I'd love an $800 SLR-type of camera but as many times as I DROP the camera and get crap on it, I use a 5mp (wait, 4mp?) So if it's just for Joes or something, I wouldn't go all out. But if you are doing a lot of studio and gnarly outdoor photography, might as well get something good. I tend to look at Nikon and Olympus myself.