I just discovered another entry in the super zoom, high pixel count camera segment, the Fujifilm S9000. It has a 9 Mega pixel sensor, a 28-300 equivalent lens, anti shake image stabilization technology and uses standard AA batteries. It seems to also have anti noise technology (a huge Achilles heel for the Panasonic FZ30) operating at ISO speeds up to 1600 (I haven't seen any reviews or samples though to determine how effective its noise management is).
P.S. apparently the "anti blur" feature is not image stabilization as I had thought -- oh well.