BUMP for the benefit of the new guys! Many are asking some of the same questions I did when I was "regional shopping" (ref the "Questions for Choosing a Regional..." thread for example). I got some good input from this old thread and maybe someone else will read something in here that will help them too.
I came to understand that the main thing is to first decide what is most important to you (pay, qol, upgrade, etc.). The choice will then be clear.