My experience is from the early fall of 2003. The big box places had the most cameras you could just pick up, well, tethered by a cable for security. At the time, MEI Microcenter also had a large display of digital camera.

National Camera had the cameras in a display case, which meant interacting with a sales rep to see them. My sales rep was *tons* better than any employee I encountered at any of the other places I browsed and shopped. I ended up buying a model that hadn't been on any of my lists of possibilities, and I've been exceptionally happy with it. (It's larger than what you're looking for, which is why I'm not going to the trouble to look up the specifics and provide a link.)