Well I guess it depends. I would have said the same thing, but on my last tour I wore a 10 ounce REI Flash 18 when I needed to carry some extra water and it worked so well I used it for the rest of the trip. I think that was another 8 days. It probably weighed only 2.5 pounds, but I hardly knew it was there and enjoyed that it automatically came with me when off the bike.

BTW, as far as carrying a camera... I prefer to have it as accessible as possible and that means in the handlebar bag. I carried a DSLR on the TA and either a 4:3 camera or a P&S on the other various tours. I put some stuff under it in the bag to cushion it, but I don't worry much about it. I figure it is a tool and meant to be used not babied.