... With the SLR the number one reason is FAST shutter speed to catch all those great shots of your kids and just nicer looking shots in general. ...
Just a tip for point and shoot cameras that not everyone is aware of. To catch "The Moment" you really want, hold the shutter button half way (ie: on the kids face), and let the camera focus. Keep it half pressed, and wait..... When the right second comes, press full way and it should snap instantly.
If the subject is moving, focus on another item where u think your subject will be when you want the photo taken. Ie. if you want to snap a shot of ur kid just as he reaches the bottom of the slide, before he jumps off; focus ur cam at the bottom of the slide and as soon as he's there, click down all the way.
Yes, with a DSLR the focus is much quicker and the burst rate and refresh rate is a lot higher, but if all u have in ur hands to get that shot is a point & shoot, this is how to do it.
Also, he told me that for the SLR you should be a photography pro to enjoy it, otherwise it could be too complicated to handle, vs the G12 which is more simpler for the civil lady. Any inputs on that?
I disagree. I think it's the other way around. When you enjoy your SLR, you will become a "photography pro".
You can always start off using the basic, auto features with the SLR (which in most scenarios will produce a much better pic than a point & shoot) and as time goes on, start playing with the settings.
And while on the topic of point and shoot vs. DSLR, a big misconception is MEGAPIXELS. You can not judge a camera based on how many megapixels it is.