For the G9, your probably looking at $450 range for the camera. That may be kinda steep for a P&S but the G9 is essentially a DSLR. It will shoot in RAW or JPEG, 12megapixel for blowing up large photos, is compatible with Speedlites in case you need more flash, compabitle with some of the EOS Lenses incase you want to change the glass.
It was voted DPReviews highly recommended camera. I think they said it best when they said "It's not a camera for everyone; you need to know what you're doing to coaxe the very best out of it, and it doesn't operate that effectively as a 'point and shoot' model (especially in low light), but in the right hands it's a real step up from the mass of indistinguishable compacts on the market, and the more you use it, the more you'll grow to appreciate it. And so, like the G7, the G9 only just scrapes into our highest rating bracket."
Heres the link to the Conclusion review of the G9 from DP review
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong9/page20.asp