Decisions: Size vs Price vs IQ

We all want a camera with certain qualities. A rich man cares not of price, a pro cares not of size, and the masses care not of image quality (IQ). I care about all three. If I could have only one camera it'd be so much easier! (I'd pick the Oly XZ-2...or the PM2...hmmm?)

From 2004-08 or so, I didn't have to worry about these problems because the cameras with great IQ were all way to large. So, the Canon s400 it was until the Fuji F30/F31. For years this camera was best weighing size vs IQ. IMO, at 6 MP at least, F31 holds up well vs similarly-sized cameras today, for example the Canon s95 or s110. I bought its 2008 replacement, Fuji F200exr, and while in 2008 it was great for its size, in 2013 it doesn't suit me IQ-wise.

I went out and bought the $350 m4/3s Olympus PEN PL2 with AMAZING IQ! But with its 14-42mm zoom lens, I'm already complaining about its size. So I will buy a $200 28 mm + $350 40 mm equiv non-zoom lens for it (I rarely zoom) because those lenses are very small pancakes, sharp, and bright. But after I get the lenses, I'll eventually get the newer, smaller version: the $500 PM2 that IMO has great IQ up to ISO 3200! Superb IQ for it's portability and I can live with the $1200 spent.

But that with the lens is still too big for all situations so I figured I'd pick up a tiny Canon s110 because it's really a good camera and again, there's nothing better that's smaller. There will definitely be situations where the s110 can go and the m4/3s cannot. So I need something like this ($300).

But there are situations where even the m4/3s PM2 with the tiny 28 mm equiv lens is too big but I want something medium-sized yet without interchangeable lenses to outperform the s110, like the Canon G15 or the XZ-2. So now I have a need for another $500 camera and am at $2000!

Or maybe I can skip the s110 and the XZ-2 in favor of a used XZ-1 for $200. Not as good of IQ, but a bit smaller.....or I can keep going in circles because when it comes down to it, there is no solution for the SIZE vs PRICE vs IQ....UGGGHHHH!!