Yes, definitely try lots of digcams in stores first.

Even better, see if you can borrow a friend's and shoot a few indoor/outdoor pics.

Then, make your choice.

Once you are happy with your choice, sell the pentax on Ebay.

Think of it as earning a downpayment on your next digcam.:idea:

Before I decided to go with a superzoom I looked at the Panasonic DMC LZ2. It's something to consider if you want something relatively compact, plus it's cheaper than the good superzooms. It has 6X optical zoom, IS, 5 MP, and uses AA batteries.