Just to post my 2c about handheld vs DSLR - I own both (in fact I own 2 handhelds), a Canon SD750 and a Pentax K100D - Both are great, I love using the Canon for traveling, and the Pentax for portraits or shots closer to home. Here are two shots I just took, I basically grabbed the cameras, turned them on and took the picture. I resized (50%) and posted them here.
Here's the Canon (Handheld):
And here's the Pentax (DSLR):
I feel like the Pentax makes a clearer shot with brighter colors and better contrast (note the sky, the pink flowers and the moving raindrops). Just a quick comparison.