I have the Gitzo 2560T, purchased for its very compact size. With a RRS BH-25 ballhead, it still fits in my shoulder bag, and is capable of handling my DSLR with my biggest lens, as well as my G9. (I'm holding out for the G11, the one with the snow shoveling feature). Even though it has six legs, it is easy and fast to open , lock and adjust, and with a ball head I have a lot more adjustment as to placement of camera and bracing the pod foot against something, like my foot, etc. It usually sits under the front seat of my car, where it can do duty as a truncheon, though unlike DP, mine mostly is a very nice monopod. Recommended, though expensive, but the smallest I could find at the time., and the small size was important. I don't think you need the same strength as a tripod in a monopod.
I asked Canon about the IS for my G9, and they said on a tripod it wouldn't matter, so just leave it on. Might help on a monopod, but I've done no testing.
Since I'm now using the G9 more than the big DSLR, I just recently got a small, compact tripod for use with it. (The Gitzo 1257 seemed, overkill). After much research, you know the routine, I concluded that on small tripods, there was very little difference in weight and capacity between aluminum and carbon fiber, though a huge price difference, so I tried Giottos, their MT 9241. I am very impressed with the finish and the quality. Highly recommended. This may be sacriligeous, but I wished I'd tried the Giottos before I spent the big bucks on the Gitzo tripod.