You can't have both full creative control and ease of use. So you can take a wider variety of pictures. But you pay for that convenience with reduced optical crispness.
Some cameras have more versatility than others.
With a Reefmaster, you're getting a great price, but the type of picture you can get is very limited. If the Great White cruises by while you're putting your macro framer around a Spanish Shawl, tough cookies. And you won't be happy with the picture quality of a housed single-use camera. If you want good pictures, invest in good equipment. In general, cheaper units are simpler to use, while more expensive cameras give you greater control over your picture.