>...is it harder to get a good picture using a D5100 than a D60?


Thom Hogan addressed this issue in his blog of February 17, 2012 entitled, Nikon Shakes Up D800 Worshipers (refer to archived entries here: http://www.bythom.com/2012%20Nikon%20News.htm)

Note that the DX sensor used in the D5100 has about the same pixel density as the high-end D800 mentioned above. Therefore any faults in user technique are bound show up with the D5100 as well, whereas the D60 is much more forgiving.

You have my sympathy, Stan. Having moved from a D60 to D5100 myself, I'm still struggling to unlearn many years worth of bad handling habits that the D60 never revealed.