SX100 IS - Great outdoors, slow flash cycle time& VERY slow first flash shot time

I'm not sure what epinions has done, but they've completely corrupted their database.  This review is for the Canon SX100 IS.

I love the camera. Because the camera is so excellent, the relatively minor deficiencies really stand out. If I were in charge of this product at Canon, here are the problem areas that I would address and change to make this into a perfect camera:

===Reduce Time To First Flash Shot===
Nearly every time I grab this camera to take an impromptu indoor shot of my kids, I find that the camera is not a willing partner. The turn on time of the camera itself is very short(about 3 sec), but the flash doesn't start charging until you lift up the flash. Once you lift it up, it can anywhere from 5 to 20 seconds (20 SECONDS!!) to take that first flash shot. It's an unbelievably long time, and even with new and fully charged NiMH batteries, it can take this long.

===Allow Zooming During Movies===
Canon allows this with the S5 IS, so there should be no technical reason preventing zooming during movies. It seems like an artificial marketing decision within Canon to differentiate the SX100 from its more expensive S5 IS brother.

===Allow Autoexposure Bracketing===
This is part of me wanting everything for a low price, but I really do wish this were on the camera. The comparably priced Panasonic TZ3 has this feature.

===Make Scrollwheel Less Sensitive===
The scrollwheel is a great idea, but in the end it's responsible for lost shots and overall frustration. The 5-way button feature of the scroll wheel is far too easy to activate and will often result in inadvertent shooting mode changes or wrong menu selections.

===Reduce flash cycle time & shutter lag with flash===
The flash recycle time is about 4 seconds, but the camera seems to have much more shutter lag with flash shots.

===Allow One Button Video Recording===
On most other Canons the user is allowed to program one button on the back (if it isn't already there on some models) so that you can start video recording from any mode on the camera. Again, it seems like an artificial marketing decision to differentiate it from its more expensive Canon siblings.

==SUMMARY OF MY GRIPES===
Of course, I realize that making these changes would essentially make this into a smaller cheaper version of the S5 IS. The SX100 is just so excellent overall that these minor problems really stand out.

==What I Loved==
-10 shot self timer great for family pictures and nearly always results in some very humorous sequences
-It takes great pictures outdoors
-It takes great indoor pictures (when the flash is ready)
-Movie quality is fantastic
-Excellent intuitive menu system (I have never opened the manual)
-Solid build quality