One other factor that you need to consider is:

Does the "pick a fleet" travel to the events that you want to go to.... OR... are they content with their mast up storage and local racing scene and how does your life match this scene.

The Bristol RI A cat fleet has international level sailors and they race on Tuesday night's. By and large.. most of these guys don't travel for local or regional cat or big regatta type events. So they have a couple of A cat lovers who drive 2 hours each way for tuesday night racing. Not the typical weeknight racer!

Just down the coast is the Mid Atlantic Hobie 17 fleet. They don't have a mast up storage home... They race on weekends at the standard Hobie 2 day regattas and have had great turnouts year after year with 35 to 45 boats at their regionals (or nationals). So, if your life does not let you get away for the weeknight racing.... You have the weekend Hobie 17 option.

My point is that perhaps more important them what boat you choose to sail is what is the schedule of the fleet you join and how close to you it is.

Since racing is a social activity...you must have others of like mind in agreement to go race on X day and know that they make good on their commitment and show up.

While the debate is interesting "which rig is faster... " Light A cat verus heavy spin cat...

Most handicappers would tell you... .... eh... you have to seperate spin's from non spins..... that is the critical factor... Thje single handed or double handed split always seems to tilt to the single hander becuase the teamwork needed to make the two man boat go is not trivial....

I personally believe that when you have a good team racing a good singlehander the ratings work properly.