As said by others, think about the battery! Most compacts have good enough optics these days. More important to think about practical details. If you want the best optics and artistic possibilities, the only option is a dslr anyway.
AA's are cheap so you can carry as much as you like, they hold enough power if they're good quality ones and if you would run out, you can buy them anywhere on the planet.
I might have to buy a new compact soon, am looking for a rugged, minimalistic model with AA batteries and an optic viewfinder around your price mark. So far haven't found anything I like and they still produce...