Which digital camera to buy? (looking at Olympus Evolt500 ..

Its been a few years (going on 5) since my last digital camera purchase
(Olympus, a 3.2MP, think C3050 model or close to it) & I'm a bit more
experienced now (not pro, but very decent & nearing higher level amature).
I'd like to know a few people's oppinions on these cameras or which ones to
get.

I'm looking at two main different cameras.
* Olympus Evolt 500 (the one with the lense kit that has 2 lenses) [Amazon
shows "Evolt 500II", is this the kit with 2 lenses?]
* Fujifilm Finepix S9000/9500 (from what I understand the only differences
is model# just to controll production counts for export or local sales?)
* (I've heard Nikon has a comparable one to the Fuji S9000?)

I like the Olympus due to that it is a digital-SLR so I have lense options &
am not stuck with the quality of the one on the camera. I dont like it
because of that reason though, the lenses are quite expensive so I'd prefer
for start to find lenses or a lense kit that has what I want.

I like the Fuji due to a 10x optical zoom but no add-ons (from what I
understand, maybe there is an adapter for this? lense filters or something?)

Here is what I am looking for.
* HIGH optical zoom (prefer 8x+)
* I'd prefer at least 7MP
* I'd like to have ability to take several pictures in a row WITHOUT
increasing/decreasing brightness with each picture.
* Add-on lense or lense filter ability would be nice (prefer not
proprietary, more industry standard "one fits all" type...for example a PCI
or USB connection doesn't require a specific device, any PCI or USB device
can fit...I'd rather have something that "any lense attachment of this size
fits, & I can get it anywhere")
* ISO above 400 would be a plus
* Ability to manually set Shutter speed, & ISO settings, flash strength,
white balance
* I'd prefer ability to use AA batteries, or at least buy an additional
battery I can charge seperately
* Good macro mode would be nice too

I'd like to keep this under $1000, or for sure under $1200.

I've been looking at buying from Amazon or Tigerdirect or some GOOD
company...no sense in paying for new cost to buy a refurb-sold-as-new by a
bad dealer or other such problems.

Any help & input is appreciated.