2. Flash charge capacitor from this camera is not going to kill you,
and if you opened the camera and touched the flashboard
without accepting a shock, troubleshoot the camera starting
from the flash circuit (no need for schematics on this) as
long as LCD backlight and flash charger are the main battery-eaters.

Good idea. In fact, completely cutting off power to the flash (by
disconnecting it) would be a very good move. If the camera then works
perfectly except for flash, then you've confined the problem.