I thoroughly recommend the RX100 as a pocketable stand-in for a professional DSLR for situations where you can't use the DSLR (not practical/socially acceptable/safe to carry a big camera) For someone just starting up, who doesn't have a DSLR - there are lots of good entry-level DSLR's which are
The RX100 is genuinely pocketable; It stays in my day bag all the time, except when I put it in the pocket of my trousers, The image quality is excellent, at least as good as my Nikon D300.
I do not like LCD viewfinders; I accept them only as the price to pay to make a camera so small; The RX100 has the usual problems, 1; The image is too small to see what you are doing; If I'm taking a group, I can't judge the best moment to do the picture because I can't see their expressions, 2.