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! :
Epson Perfection V550 vs Epson Perfection V600 Photo: What is the difference?
Sharpness Test: Lab Scan vs. Epson V600 vs. Camera/DSLR - YouTube
Epson Perfection V600 Enlarging Energy Efficient Scanner