I think an important factor is price (look at the interest the "Thoughts: Why there's no $3k (US$) "starter cat"" thread generated). If you want a carbon boat are you happy to pay carbon prices?

I would like a low maintenance, cheap, and robust boat, I would like to be able to take be able to take all breakable bits off easily, vandalism is getting to be a problem at our club. It needs to be sail and forget. Now I have young children I have a lot less time to sail, and I begrudge spending that time fixing the boat. There is no point in a fast boat if I don't get to use it!

It needs to be easy to setup and sail.

Conversely my ideal boat also needs to be the one all my buddies sail. At the moment thats my Hobie 16 which certainly does not meet the above criteria. Cheap to buy but expensive to maintain.

Gareth