Complete automation has made the minicam the ideal family snapshot camera. And now, major camera manufacturers have recognized the market and produced high end cameras that produce images that can stand up to most technically demanding photographer, the wealthy dentist. The results of tests I have run are not suprising. What is suprising is that the tests were done by comparing 16x20 prints - and no one who saw the prints had any overriding objection to general performance at any aperture. In general, the small film camera delivers higher quality results than the small electronic camera.
Film is pretty amazing stuff.
Cost rises dramatically when you need to use an electronic camera to produce feature sized images for newspapers and magazines, much less prints for exhibition. More important, I have seen cameras from all the other major manufacturers in the hands of intelligent, quality conscious photographers.