A NiMH battery will outlast an equivalent NiCd battery, but more importantly, NiMH batteries don't exhibit the memory effect that NiCd batteries do. Some digital cameras now include a 4 AA battery set of NiMH batteries and charger. Keep this feature high on your list. Its main job was to protect the camera and lens from accidental damage or otherwise to keep it in a safe, protective environment. It makes sense that you should want to protect your digital camera as well.
Some digital cameras come with a lightweight protective case.
This is OK for casual use, but for real protection, you should consider a case made from a third-party company. These protective cases are generic in style, and fit many different digital camera models. Case Logic, one of several companies, has recently expanded its protective case line to include digital cameras. Two generic models are offered, one for single small digital cameras, and the other for larger digital cameras and their accessories. This process uses your computer's serial port, and runs at its generally slow serial transfer speed.