Any Suggestions?

What can one do to remedy, or at least significantly improve, a small scratch on the lens
of a P&S that is a good camera, but not worth the cost of sending it back to the factory,
especially when it is not covered by warranty?

Go to your local optometrist and ask for their recommendations in an eyeglass polishing kit. Make sure they understand you're working on a glass lens. If you go during off-peak hours, you may even get a chance to speak to the optometrist him/herself.

Of household products, toothpaste is the finest abrasive I can think of- but I'd probably save that as a last resort. :)

Joe U.

Is the scratch visible on the downloaded image? If not, I would not worry about it. Small scratches often don't show up in the finished image.