"The D7000 overexposes." I'm still getting a ton of feedback making this assertion, many of whom are quoting reviews on other sites to me to tell me I'm wrong. I don't think the D7000 overexposes. So where's the disconnect? In a word: exposure.
"Exposure" determines the collection of data, the number of photons that get converted to electrons. That's all "exposure" is. Aperture and shutter speed determine how many photons get through to the sensor. ISO changes how the electrons are counted.
The big disconnect comes on what you do with the collected data. Nikon has changed their minds a few times over the years in that regard, and they appear to make slightly different choices depending upon whether the camera is set "consumer" or "pro". Once we have an electron count, the question is "what does that count (exposure) represent?" This is were we start doing things like applying gamma and other interpretations to the data. Beginning with the D3, Nikon switched to Picture Controls. The default Picture Control produces a strong gamma boost (compared to previous Nikons), higher contrast, and a color shift. Such an image can look bright, have blown out highlights, and seem "overexposed," especially on the overly bright LCD on the camera. But is it? Try switching to Neutral with -1 Contrast in that same high contrast situation and use the same exposure. Still too bright with blown highlights? Didn't think so.
So, instead of saying the "D7000 overexposes" perhaps you ought to say the "D7000 overdevelops." Even then I'm not 100% sure I'd agree with that assertion. Moreover, there's another aspect that comes into play that doesn't get enough mention: the Nikon metering is relatively consistent (at least once you figure out what it is doing in Single Area AF). More consistent, in my experience, than competing matrix metering systems. On my m4/3 cameras, for instance, I find that I'm more constantly altering the camera's settings. Ditto the Canon DSLRs I've used. Even if I were to agree that the D7000's metering is "hot" (and I don't), it is consistent. Consistent problems are easier to adapt to (and the D7000 has several ways you can address that, including a permanent way via CSM #B5).
That said, I don't like Nikon's tendency on the consumer cameras to increase exposure emphasis on the focus sensor when the camera is in Single Area AF. I think Nikon made an assumption there that is not very true in practice (the assumption is that things you focus on are always mid-toned). The D80 was the worst of the offenders, and they've toned down the exposure emphasis on the focus point in Nikon cameras since, but it still is not producing quite the consistent results that most people want. Inconsistency is much more problematic than being slightly off.