Planning a new (and smaller) setup!

While the sensor is bigger in an NEX, or micro4/3, the lenses are not fast.

So while you might shoot the lx5 at f2.0, and base ISO, most of the nex and m4/3 lenses are NOT even f2.8. Certainly none of the zooms.

There are only 2 pany m4/3 lenses faster than f2.8, and the rest are mostly f4-5.6. So the lx5 has 2-3 full stops advantage, over the zooms, and lx5 looks pretty good, compared with 2-3 times higher ISO.

Macro photography is a problem with the EVIL cameras. Check out the kit 14/42 lens for the magnification value. You won't be pleased. You'll need a macro lens for macro photography.

Yes, you need a macro lens for macro photography. I don't see the problem here. There is a dedicated macro lens reaching 1:1 for the u4/3 system (pana 45mm) and there are more macro lenses on the way (e.g. sony 30mm macro).