Which digital camera is the best?

I'm saving up to buy a new camera. For years I have been in love with the Canon Rebel. When I purchased my first Digital Camera back in 2005 that was the one I really, really wanted. But it was still way out of my price range. I had saved up enough to purchase a Kodak the price tag was over 500 dollars. The camera was great. I loved the pictures it took. They were crisp and clear. Plus it had tons of options on it. I was in heaven and took over 200 pictures a day.

Then one day when getting ready to go to a football game. I loaded it up and was going to take pictures of us. It wouldn't come on. We took it to the local camera shop to have it fixed. I thought maybe it just needed a new battery. They told us they wouldn't even look at it because they don't like Kodak. Wow I wish someone would have told me that before I blew over 500 dollars on it. So I bought another camera this time a little cheapy. It did the job. Not as well as my Kodak. Which sits in a box in my closet. Man I miss that camera. I could have just bought a new battery and hoped and prayed that was the problem. But knowing my luck it wouldn't be. Gosh the camera shop wouldn't even look at it to tell me.

For Mother's day a year ago my husband bought me a new Canon Powershot A720 IS. It's been a good camera to me. I just want something more. I want that Rebel I've been dreaming of. Or maybe a Nikon.

So Camera gurus...what is your favorite camera? I need advice. I don't want to have my experience with my Kodak to happen again.

Oh and is there any equipment you would recommend to buy along with the camera,
compact flash cards, tripods, lenses, bags etc??