I upgraded my Epson V600 scanner to an Epson V850 Pro! Not affordable in the slightest, but still 1/3 the price of a CoolScan. Here's some comparisons. Stop dissing on flatbeds! :
The Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner | Is It Really Total Cr@p? - YouTube
Review: Epson Perfection V600 vs. V850 Photo Scanners | Larry Jordan