I see my questions, the EM1 or the G9 or the GH4, consider this.......

I begin with quizzing the person before pondering equipment.

Are they currently a photographer? Do they use cameras already or just their phone or nothing at all? What do they like to shoot now and what would they like to shoot that they don't or cannot do today? Stills, video, both? Prints, YouTube, instagram...? Personal use, volunteer use, commercial sales?

A new photographer I might steer one way and a current photographer another. I'm comfortable with system compare/contrast if not encyclopedic about every brand's every model. If I have a good handle on their current needs and future aspirations I begin with lenses and secondarily, cameras.

In m4/3 video remains a separater--with Panny filling the bill with more models. If they're primarily video shooters I would probably point them that direction and defer to others on specifics, since I seldom use it.

For stills, unless there's a tight budget I'd only recommend 20MP models. With the current trend towards brand-centricity I'd nudge an Oly lens kit towards that camera brand and vice versa for Panny lenses, but not strongly since they still work across brands. To reiterate: lenses first, matched to their current needs and future kit growth plans.

The best thing is a camera in the hand for those lucky enough to have a store in reach. Otherwise, it's read lots of reviews and take the plunge.

For tight budgets I'd suggest shopping used and preferring older top-of -the-line versus newer entry-level.

That's my rough cut. No two folks are alike and specific gear generally enters the conversation very late in the process.

Rick