I just made the switch - just got rid of my GL2 and all it's fixin's and I now have a Canon 60D. I started out like you by asking questions on here and I did get a bunch of help, but it could be confusing at times as you will also be flooded with 60D vs GH2 vs T2i vs T3i vs something else arguments. Take what you can from here (and there is a lot of good stuff) but you will need to do more research to really appreciate the paradigm shift of this change.
For free research, check out the blogs for Shane Hurlbut, ASC, Vincent Laforet and Philip Bloom for starters - these are some big names with vast experience behind the DSLR Cinema movement. Be very sure to study the principles shared by these guys and don't get caught up in the prices of the "type of equipment" they use - these guys are high end users and the prices of what they use will scare you away if that's all you focus on. Check out their body of work on Vimeo to appreciate what can be achieved with this technology.
For paid research, if you have a few bucks check out Kurt Lancaster's DSLR Cinema book (I got mine from Amazon). This is the book that helped me make the switch as it covers the principles of DSLR cinema and helps with a blue print that considers the "budget" movie maker's, well, budget. This book was a great read too.
There is more investment in this technology as now you will be buying more stuff to make great DSLR movies. I am new to this world myself, but as I build my arsenal I have come to recognize the need for lenses (primes vs. zooms - yeah whole other thread), follow-focus, view finders, sliders, HD monitors, etc. This is all doable as with a bit of searching you can find quality affordable stuff for the entry level movie maker. One more thing you must also consider, which usually get's missed because of the focus on the tech and prices, is the education involved. Camcorders did a lot of the work for us. I find DSLRs to be more manual, which I enjoy but you have to do more stuff now and understand more concepts better then before. Understanding exposure, histograms, latitude, depth of field (calculators - yeah there's an app for that, LOL), lens choice, picture style, recording sound separately and synching in post, color, etc is very important with DSLRs. Because of the file format of these cameras the mantra is get it as close to your goal, you vision, in camera because there's not much wiggle room in post. It's exciting stuff that can be learned and is quite doable.
Just my 2 pennies. Oh and back to something you said - form factor. The form of DSLRs is limiting and restrictive as these cameras are primarily designed for photography - so there's an added expense there to make them mobile. I just use my tripod for now as I build my tool set. However, that form factor has it's advantages too as most people still don't recognize these cameras as video machines. You mentioned people taking you more seriously. Ha! Unless you have a client who is paying you money for your work and is adamant about you shoot their stuff on a Red One, what do you care? The names I threw at you up top do professional paying work with these types of cameras (well higher end, but you get my point). Dude your a 14 year old movie maker - that makes you cool already. What do you care what people think of the tools you use for your art? At the end of the day whether you go with a GL2 or GH2, these things are just tools. Your focus and your energy should be spent on how to make magic with what you've got.
You're on your way. Good luck.