I suspect 14mp because it would mean an existing sensor with Nikon tweaking ala D3x. The D3x became an inevitability when Sony announced the sensor in January of 2008. Likewise, it’s only a matter of time before Nikon starts using Sony’s 14mp sensor in something, provided that they can make it as pretty at higher ISO as the d300/d90. That something would make sense in a dx00 level body, since Nikon’s marketing makes sense in the way it tends introduce features in higher level bodies and trickle them down to lower, unlike Sony who’s marketing still confuses me.

That said, why even bother? 12mp and 14mp are so close that such a camera would be a snoozer. Except to bring down the price of the d300. Which is already nudged down in the consumer’s minds by the quite excellent d90.