[PPCGeeks4ME]

Well, actually it doesn't turn on the flash except for the duration of the photo exposure. The LED has two brightness levels: a dim light used to help you see what you're about to take a picture of (and as an AF assist), and a bright light used for taking the picture. When you manually turn the flash on, only the dim light comes on; then, when you actually take the picture, the bright light comes on for a very short period of time.

This is actually very similar to the AF assist light found on most point-and-shoot cameras. On my Canon SX110 IS, the default behavior of the AF assist light in low-light situations is to stay on constantly, so as to help me frame what I'm about to shoot.

If you're looking for a way to disable the dim light altogether and only have the bright light come on during the photo exposure (to remain conspicuous, I guess?), I don't know of a way to do that.