The sharpness comparison, likely has to do with conditions, not the camera.
CCD Cameras like the S4000 generally contribute more noise to a photo, so for a sample photo, conditions would need to be perfect... likely the photos you saw were "IMPROVED"
CMOS sensor cameras, are the current wave of cameras, and are the same type used in all DSLR cameras, hence, the truth of their quality.
The other symptom, is that having LESS pixels translates into less detail... but also less chance of Noise. If this were Fuji's first trial at Digital Cameras, I would say stay away... but after Owning 4 or 5 Fuji Cameras, I can say that quality is not an issue... Learning how to use the camera, IS.
