Everyone, thanks so much for the suggestions you've all provided...I think I'm finally done researching and agonizing over this decision. I still plan to call Chris' Coffee to get some final advice before I put an order through, but I think I'm going with:

Mini Vivaldi II, 15 amp configuration with no pre-infusion chamber.
-I have thought long and hard about plumbing in, and while it may well be one of those things you can't live without once you have it, I like the simplicity and flexibility of having a pourover machine.
-I was very tempted to change the power receptacle where the machine will go to 20 amp just because - more power is always better, right! But again, for simplicity I'm just going to go 15 amp and not worry about what to do if I overload the circuit on a regular basis and want to switch back to 15 anyway. Also, I'm pretty sure electrical code here mandates that a 20 amp power receptacle can only be a single, rather than double, so I'd have to plug my grinder in elsewhere, and I (and especially my wife) would prefer to not have a cord running even a short distance along the counter if we don't have to.
-I read a fair amount about pre-infusion, and it sounds like it's not set in stone whether it's useful or not on the Mini Vivaldi, so I figured I'd go without it. If I can't get channeling under control with practice, I can consider adding it later.
-I know I'll probably end up spending more money on the little softener that sits inside the Mini's tank versus a larger one under the kitchen sink, but again, for convenience - and not having to move all the stuff under the sink out of the way and crawling half way in whenever I need to change a filter out, I think it's close to a wash for me.

For my grinder, I'm going to go with a Cimbali Max Hybrid.
The Super Jolly certainly seems to be the choice in its price range, but it's too big, even with a mini hopper, for my counter. The Max seemed to do a bit better in the Titan Grinder Challenge, and I think it'll look a lot more at home on the counter top.

As always, I welcome any thoughts, comments or criticisms...and yes, this post is so long partly to convince myself that I really have reached a rational, final decision...feel free to throw me right back into disarray and endless pages of forum reading if you think it's in my best interest (or for your own amusement )

And again, thanks to everyone who posted here, and all the people that have spent time posting on other threads here and elsewhere - your willingness to spend time sharing information makes it a heck of a lot easier for people like me to jump in with both feet and have confidence that we've done our due diligence.

-Chris

Ack! Had one more question for you guys - do you know of any reason this 15 amp rated timer wouldn't work with a Mini Vivaldi running in 15 amp mode? It's a lot cheaper and nicer looking than the one designed for the machine:
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-DT620CL-Indoor-Astronomic-Digital/dp/B001KBZUMG/ref=sr_1_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1307751330&sr=1-2

The timer has to be wired in to the motherboard to make the machine turn on. The S1 site has a few posts on how to DIY a timer into your motherboard if you are a bit of an electronics whiz...(which is one of the reasons why I decided against getting a Spaz).

Your reasons listed above sound like you like simplicity in your process and machine. In 2005 I bought a Brewtus II and was firmly in the camp of believers in strict control over temp and pressure; I have flown the coup and now follow the path of good group design and careful attention to dose and grind, and I can say that I am getting better results. My machine is an Elektra Semiautomatica - I wanted the group, and I liked how simple the machine is to maintain. All machines need work, and some DBs are so cramped inside that it's a pain to get at parts that are otherwise easy to replace.

Have you considered something like the Semi and a Compak K10?

Mark

Neat looking machine, but the combo would be over my budget, the grinder is too tall to fit under my kitchen cabinets, and at least for now, I think the automatic nature of the Mini Vivaldi will be nice to have.
Hey, everyone needs some type of upgrade path, right?

Thanks for the info. about the timer - I read the Vivialdi instruction manual, and seem to recall the power button has to be held down for a few seconds to turn the machine on - I'm assuming that's why a normal timer won't work.
Oh well, nothing's perfect, I suppose.