It may just be me, but I just can't go into a store to "feel" a camera with the intention of buying it online.
If I'm going to buy it online, I'll pick an online retailer with a very generous (like 100% satisfaction guaranteed) return policy and order it from them. Many, if not all, of the retailers mentioned here already do offer a generous return policy.
If you spend a lot of time and effort researching your decision, you should be able to narrow your wants and needs.
And you may even be able to try out someone else's camera to get a better notion of if you like that model. Ask around at work or wherever to see what cameras people own and if they would show and explain their camera. Most folks would be proud to do so under the right circumstances.
WM