I have the JVC GR-DV 1800 which I picked up off Ebay for about £260. It's in excellent condition and it feels nice and solid and works like a dream
. It has a shoe that you can plug external mics on. No night vision though :( . I agree with you about the bulk though, and that was one of the factors that I considered when I was out looking. I really don't like small cameras because they feel weak.
Some advice: Look around for cameras with really good reviews on several sites and then check on eBay to see whether there are any good deals. I have been very happy with my deal, as it cost the original owner about £1200, and they sold it to me for £260 odd.