Interesting conversation with a Canon rep.

[Cassandra]

When I was in LA, I stopped into Bel Air Camera and was chatting with a salesman and a Canon rep. The salesman was telling me that there were online hacks that would allow my point-and-shoot to have more manual control (and that I should approach with caution) and the Canon rep told me that Canon uses the same chip for all of its cameras (lowers costs) and that they allow the chip to do only what each camera can support. IOW, I could have full manual control but my lens and the rest of the camera will prevent me from getting the quality of image I would expect from a better camera. The hack is loaded onto the memory card, BTW.
Just found that interesting.

[NashVegas]

1. But Is It Worth the Time?

That it would take to set up the shots?

I still have in the back of my closet my first P & S digital, a purchase based on the spec sheet offering manual controls. What it didn't say what that you have to stop everything and go through 4-6 menu-based steps to get to the point where you're ready to click the shutter.