I'm goin' CRAZY!!!

[freedivernd]

I've been researching cameras for a few days.. I'm leaning towards the canon powershots, the sony cybershots, and the casio exilims.. but I am totally confused on what model to be looking at.  I'd like to stay around $250 for the camera... (I've been lookin' at prices at ) and would like to stay around $200 or less on the housing.. (I've been looking at digideep for factory housings too) and I think I can do this... even cheaper with the right camera and housing.. maybe $200 or less on the camera and less than $200 on the housing and that would be my preference..(keep the costs down)  I just want to get the most for the money of course.  and so my questions????  How important is it to get more than a point and shoot digital camera (remember, I'm the $9.99 kodak guy, but have had real nice 35mm land equipment)??  I know I want 3 things.. ONE: movie mode with several options.. i.e. different size/fps and in an easy internet format... like mpeg (not quiktime) TWO: good rechargeable battery life.. lithium preferred maybe.. I don't know..  TWO and A HALF: an option for large capacity, easy to use, and reasonably priced memory device.. THREE: large lcd screen, I've seen some with 2.7" screens.. that would be nice for sure.  THREE and A HALF: compact size 
And now after those three or so things... do I need to be concerned about having interchangeable lenses, manual focus, manual aperture, f-stops?  Do I need the option for external flash?  Do I need to be able to control white balance?  Do I need a menu setting that says "underwater" like I see in some of the cameras?  It seems like if I go much over the 3 1/2 things I'm looking for the $$$ tends to go where  I don't want to be...
any advice... anyone else done this similar homework so I can quit and just take your word for it???  I think maybe I send this as an e-mail off to digideep and a few other companies for advice and to see what they recommend too.  just gettin' burned out from looking at all the options.
Fred