the not so good D-pad,
whut, u crazy, Tats. That D-pad is really good. Better than any MD pad I've used. Plus, 6 buttons are great, and I've always liked that form factor more than buttons-below. As Biggus says though, Hucards are waayyyy smaller, coupled with the fact that I tend to take the entire box out with MD games.
As for the screen, I remember the nomad being a bit blurry, but it's so damn easy to mod with a 3.5" screen, and then it's superdoopersharp.
Battery life is roughly the same now, which is enough for a playthrough of most action titles.
I'd (perhaps unfairly) say a modded Nomad with a flashcart is slightly better than an unmodded PC GT with a flashcart. And I hate the idea of taking a knife to a GT.
Oh, and don't forget, Nomad has simultaneous, if akward, 2 player. Definite advantage.