Torn between two great cameras

I'm torn between the two following cameras:

Nikon d3100 and Nikon p500

i've weighed up the pros and cons, seems that d3100 is better, even though it is more expensive. The only thing i'm worried about is the fact that the d3100 doesn't have bracketing.i'm a beginner, but am well educated in camera functions. What should i do? Is bracketing a necessity in taking photographs? Any info or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Bracketing is typically used with static subjects, so unless you're going specifically for portraits or still landscapes, I wouldn't be too concerned. I use a Nikon D40 and a Nikon D90, My friend just got her first dSLR and went with the 3100. She's extremely pleased with it, and could handle it right out of the box with little dSLR knowledge. (She borrowed my D40 for a week on vacation prior to purchasing her 3100). I'm ticked because her 3100 has 2 megapixels more than my D90 at half the cost!

Seeing as you are well educated in camera functions, and Nikon is extremely user friendly, allowing you to basically point and shoot, or go completely manual, and everything in between, I'd recommend the 3100.

The sensor on the D3100 is over 15 times larger than the P500 so as you can guess, the quality of the images you produce will be much better if you have the skills to use it.

There's really NO reason to auto-bracket images. You can do it manually with the same if not better results

You can certainly bracket with the D3100, you just have to adjust the exposure compensation yourself for each photo rather than having the camera do it for you.

You are only torn between two cameras, neither of which are great. Is bracketing important? Do you use it? Bracketing was done during the film era to make sure you get a a properly exposed shot if you are unsure with the exactness of your settings. It's the digital age already. After you take a shot, you look at the resulting picture, adjust, then take again.