George, great post.
To achieve clarity, why aren't you considering cruising cats?
You summarize the quandry well, and I think you're well on your way to making a choice that suits your preferences and desires.
One place where this topic has been discussed well is in the Letters area of the Latitude 38 site (for several years). Here's one of my favorite posts and responses:
http://www.latitude38.com/letters/199903.htm
The editors believe that speed is safety, but they also acknowledge that full-keel boats have crossed oceans for quite awhile now...
Good luck on your search!
Jim H