Dave,
I dearly love the 870. I've carried it, sweated with it, been scared with it, and I've even ended some nasty people's careers with it.
My 870 is pretty pedestrian by many other's standards. Its got bead sights, an extended magazine and a surefire light. Nothing more was ever needed.
As a professional, I also know that there's better stuff out there. That's why I switched to the Glock pistols when they first came out. In my opinion, the best shotgun out there today is the Benelli. The NOVA pump action has advantages over the 870, and the Super 90 beats all semi-autos flat.
Although the Super 90 is pricey, the Nova is reasonably priced (about the cost of an 870). If I had an 870, I wouldn't rush out to sel it or anything like that, but if you wanted something better, I'd take a look at those.
Gabe Suarez - HALO Group
http://www.thehalogroup.com http://www.gabesuarez.com