However, you'll never get anything other than a snapshot using the built in flash of a pocket sized camera.

Yep, and that is pretty true of any camera with a built in flash (film or digital). A flash is really only useful for at most 10 to 20 feet unless it is a big honking studio style external. I would look at this as an excuse to upgrade to something in the prosumer space where you probably get a little better flash and can adjust the effective ISO speed to compensate for low light conditions

-Mike