I will start, for holidays, picnics , family and friends I mainly use a Lumix dmc-fz5 bought second hand reconditioned with warranty for $300 two years ago . Now good examples can be got for $150 in USA or UK with high Aus dollar. There are no real duds out there you get what you pay for some people want some features others want others. However you can never change the over or under exposure loss of detail, blur due to hand shake or subject movement, bad composition you are always stuck with. Just as bad flash placement or glare a polarizer could have eliminated.
The lumix I use I class as a compact ultra optical zoom, digital zoom is useless, any computer can do that. Sony, Canon, Pentax, Nikon and many others make excellent cameras in this class. What I like about the lumix is for the price and risk of damage near water or dust is a very good lens for $ with simple or manual settings. It is also one of the few that allows filters. The main negatives are a very weak flash common in this category. Propertied batteries no top ups at local servo again common in category, biggest gripe is no hot shoe.
For eBay, work and similar I use 2 Samson gx-10 mainly to avoid changing lens too often. Dirt is a real problem for digital SLRs. I am embarrassed to count my lens as I only regularly use about 20 of them. The other 200 odd. I justify as a having a collector interset in photographic history. OH I believe in Santa clause too. Same comments apply though, all the manufacturers have good products in their price bracket.
I also have some film bodies ( well more than a few I have tello disease in film) occasionally used.