DSLR is imporatant, bigger CCD is better at capturing lights which create better picture but in this case all Digital Cameras now a day don't use DSLR anymore. Because it's heavy and chucky, this is where the sensor come into place.

Lower mega pixel counts does have a disadvantage in quality wise. But 12Mpx sensor will still produce the same amount of noise as 5Mp. The catch is it is wider and can be compress down to 5Mpx resolution with less noise which meant better printing image.

Also algorithm is different as well in converting light to image on the sensor. I've compared the 12Mp Satio with my N900 5Mp and I got to say N900 lost hands down with the same picture print on the same size.

Plus when you zoom, N900 pictures wasn't good but 12Mpx Satio still looks alright.