1---I carry a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. Great shirt pocket-size camera; great images.
2---I learned the hard way that when I left my former little P+S in a pack, it got shaken, rattled and bumped into an unnecessary premature demise. I now carry my camera in a well-padded little LowePro soft case in the back pocket of my jersey. In bad weather, that goes inside a ziploc bag.
3---I may be doing some long-distance, self-contained touring in a harsh environment next year. If I do, it'll be with one of those "rugged" P+S's ---maybe an Olympus TG-2...