"Looks more like 1000+ feet to me."

I know it wasn't, because I was there. But, I must admit that the
photograph initially makes the helicopter look much higher than I
remember it. I believe this is purely a matter of optical perspective,
though. The helicopter is small (and even smaller in the photograph),
so you assume it is very far away. Actually, it is fairly close in that
photo, about as close as it is off the ground.

"Also, I take my pda / phone / camera in there all the time. "

I have worn my Olympus C-3040s around my neck for the last 4 years (and
had another camera on my hip for a year prior). I try to have it with
me at all times. I've taken it into several Wal-Marts in several cities
in two states. I have never before had a Wal-Mart representative tell
me that I cannot bring my camera inside the store. Now, though, they
tell me I can't shop there if I have my camera.

I called 1800-Walmart and complained. They simply passed my complaint
back to the store. I got a message on my answering machine from that
store, repeating what they had just told me the previous day. They say
it is Wal-Mart policy. The manager even said that if I would tell him
which other Wal-Marts allowed me to bring in my camera, he would get
that straightened out, because it is not permitted.