My experience using a Canon SX730HS for four years

Yes, they do have flaws and could be better in a number of respects, but what do you want for the price.

If you're asking what I want, I want a better superzoom compact, and I'd be happy to pay a little more for that.  But I wrote this review in part to let people know what they _will_ get if they buy this one, with all its compromises, so they can judge for themselves.  For me personally, price was not the main factor, if that's what you're getting at.

Over the years I've probably used more than 20 camera models and have always found something in each one that I'd like to see changed or improved.

Well, yes and no.  This camera provoked the most extreme reactions from me, of any compact I've used.  As I said, it has some of the makings of a really great camera, it teases you with that, and yet it's flaws aren't just "oh that could be improved", they're infuriating.  I've never encountered something like this in any other camera.

And, as I said, I *love* the Olympus Tough line.  I totally understand what a camera built to take diving can't also have an extensive zoom.  They actually have better zoom than I'd expect from such a camera, though!  That's pretty much the only flaw I consider really significant in those cameras, and it's a very very understandable tradeoff for what they are - you just cannot make an underwater compact with much more zoom than that.  It's not like they could've made it "better" and chose not to.  Those cameras are truly excellent compact cameras.  Unlike the SX70 HS, which _could_ be excellent (in a different way, with a different tradeoff), but very much isn't.