Digital Depot Online Ordered grey market DSLR online, then told only avail in Japanese, and order was cancelled Internet, Internet

Don't jump to defend this merchant. They had no intention of sending this customer what he "ordered". They were strictly counting on baiting and switching him.

All gray market digital cameras have the same menus as their official USA equivalents. That all-Japanese bit was garbage.
The only differences would be the lack of manufacturer warranty coverage, and sometimes a different model naming convention. And its possible with some types of items that the gray version might be lacking "green" or non-toxic components required in their USA cousins.

This guy will be lucky if he doesn't end up having to charge back whatever he "ordered", even if at this point he thinks the ordeal is over.

The camera retail business is a dirty one and almost nobody outside of Amazon and a handful of nationally respected stores can be trusted.

anyone selling gray market should be avoided like the plague, whether they appear up front about it or not.

They didn't charge you anything, and even explained to you that the menus would be in japanese to make sure you understood this. They likely told you that to avoid returns from customers of these grey market items. If anything, it sounds like this company is being upstanding with you. Why would a company that does not sell that particular item in the US make their menus in english? You are buying a foriegn item, I would expect it to be in a foriegn language.  as for your questions:

" If Digital Depot would like to respond, would they please answer the following questions:
1. Why would they offer a model in the US that only comes with Japanese menus?"

Some people wouldn't care that the menus are in japanese. They can either read the japanese or want the bargain reguardless of the language barrier. I know if I found a good enough deal, I wouldn't care about the language. I would figure it out.

" 2. If the model is actually available, and I'm willing to buy it, why would they go to such lengths to persuade me against the purchase? Oh wait; judging by the other posts here, if I would have asked which model I should buy, I'm sure I would have been steered to something three times more expensive"

Likely because they *know* that this model does not have english menus. They want to make sure you understand that it does not have english. if anything the company is doing their due dilagence in making sure that a US customer is aware of this before purchase. Also realize that the US is not the only country they are selling units to.