But for some people it is worth it to have the extra magnification. My APS camera has a short zoom lens but I rarely use the telephoto. Lens speed is the least of my worries as long as the lens is sharp. I would recommend getting a camera that allows you to override the automatic flash and turn it off or on at will. This allows you to avoid being kicked out of museums that don't allow flash and to fill in harsh shadows by forcing the flash to come on.
Many cameras feature a red-eye reduction feature.
These are usually some sort of pre-picture flash or light. They will help reduce the famous red eyes caused by flash, but will not eliminate them. The further away that flash is located in relation to the lens, the less noticeable the red-eye. Some cameras have a really nice feature that allows you to shoot flash exposures at slower shutter speeds. It's nice, but not essential.