I have a Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum which I got because I wanted a semi-auto .44 Magnum and it was the only thing available that I knew I could get parts for over time. I still agree with my decision though I think the LAR Grizzly is a much better gun.
Personally, I think the gun is good for hanging on the wall, silhouette shooting and nothing else. Most of this is due to the fact that the gun has some serious flaws in it's design and MRI apparently is to scared to admit that their product is nothing more then a pretty looking, overpriced junk gun that fires magnum ammo. I will probably trade mine for a S&W 460 once I replace it with another magnum-powered semi-auto.
If you ARE going to get a Desert Eagle, get a .357 Magnum MARK I. I have a friend who has one and it's great. Reasonable size and weight, accurate and has never jammed in over a thousand rounds that I have seen through it. Most of the .50s I've seen in action don't make it through a magazine without jamming half the time.
BTW. If you think the wannabe Desert Eagle owners are bad, wait till you get to know some of the people who actually go out and buy them. Spending $1300 on your ego or desire to be liked says something. Not all, but allot of the people I have come across who have Desert Eagles were total creeps.