If the G11 otherwise works well and you like using it, repairing it can be reasonable. Based on the answers, the choice is mainly between spending less to keep a camera you already know, or spending more on a replacement you may or may not like as much.

Dust or debris inside a compact zoom doesn’t necessarily mean the whole product line has a design flaw; any camera can have an individual failure or contamination issue. So one bad experience with a G11 isn’t strong evidence that all Canon compacts—or newer models—will develop the same problem.

A lower-cost option mentioned was sourcing a replacement lens assembly and attempting a DIY repair, but that carries obvious risk and is only sensible if you’re comfortable opening cameras.

If you’d rather avoid repair uncertainty, replacing the camera may be the better long-term choice, especially given the age of the G11. A newer enthusiast compact in the same general class would be the closest like-for-like replacement; if you want more flexibility, an entry mirrorless camera is the next step up, though it will usually be larger and more expensive.