So is the SX260 low-light AF really all that bad?

Thanks for the input thus far, all.

Peacefrog, that sounds worse than my old Nikon 5900, which was already horrible.

Earub, I wonder if at close range in an environment with lots of sharp verticals & horizontals might not strongly favour AF assist. Focusing on a tree 50 metres off might be a bit different.

OpticsEngineer, your input is heartening. I like Canon toning as well but you can get that with Photoshop, and I'd rather have definition than pretty colours up-front. The Sony might be an option: I'll have a gander at the samples.  The Oly I'll leave, for the same reason as you.

Cheers