So if I get good glass for the Canon EOS Rebel K2, or Nikkon F55, will it be worth a damn?
One of the things that you will eventually discover, is that to a great extent, the camera body you get will matter very little.
A rugged, flexible and adaptable body will end up lasting you for a longer time, and will open opportunities to you to do specialized tasks that other, more basic bodies might not, but it is a difference of degree only.
If either of these bodies fit well in your hands, and seem to intuitively respond to what you want to do, than you should seriously consider buying them.
The real question is - will they aid you in developing your vision, and will you enjoy using them to create photographs? If they will, they are truly great investments!
If you have the opportunity to handle and try a variety of choices - I would suggest you do so. Once you choose something, after taking a bunch of photographs, you may want to change, but you will have learned a lot.
If you put good glass on your first choice, you are more likely to be able to re-use it. I would be careful, however, about looking to APUG to advise you about the best choice of camera systems - you might end up with 3 or 4!

Please understand, this advice comes from someone who, at 17, had had two 35mm cameras - a Kodak 35, and a Kodak Retina S1.
By 18, I had an Olympus OM1 (not OM1-MD, just an OM1) plus 3 lenses. They didn't make me a better photographer than my Kodak 35 or my Retina S1, just a more flexible and adaptable one. My skill and "eye" didn't (doesn't) come from my cameras, but rather from my experiences and my exposure to the work and feedback of others.
My advice - get your hands on something that is reasonably likely to be reliable and dependable and give quality results, and take, evaluate and share lots of photography. With the current cost of quality used equipment, once you are sufficiently experienced, it won't be all that difficult to switch, if you need to do so.
Enjoy the process, and the results - have fun!
Matt
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