This is a camera you can take anywhere. It is drop-proof to 5 feet (though I've seen a display model get thrown across the room and still work,) crush proof to 220 pounds (I cringed when observing a display model getting stepped on with stiletto heels, but was delighted when there was no damage,) water proof to 10 meters, and freeze proof to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (most LCD screens freeze or become distorted in cold weathers.) This camera looks and feels robust in your hands due to its stainless steel frame, but is not heavy. It takes good pictures, and has internal picture editing features built into the software. The camera contains a manometer to measure your depth when you take it into the water. The controls are very user friendly, with the ability to change settings at your fingertips (ISO, flash, timer, brightness, anti-shake, etc) without need to scroll through a menu. This camera can be used in virtually any environment in which a paddler would subject him/herself. It takes xD cards, which gives the camera a capacity for 2GB of memory, or roughly 600, or at least 1.5 hours of video (I'm taking an educated guess) on its highest quality setting.
The downside of this camera is that besides its indestructible construction, it is basically just like any other "point and shoot" camera. Battery life is average (editing pictures uses up a lot of battery life, because the camera makes copies instead of altering the original shot.) Video is not bad, and records at a scant 10 frames per second (I think.) The flash is not spectacular (compared to my Casio Exilim point and shoot, which has an amazingly overpowered flash,) and it occasionally takes awhile for the camera to decide what it's trying to focus in on.
All in all, the durability of this camera really makes up for its average performance (which is why it gets an 8) as a "point and shoot." I would recommend this camera to anyone who abuses their equipment (I certainly do) and wants to take photos anywhere one would take any other camera in, and walk out with a novelty paperweight and a sad story.