Art and Walt are exactly right. I think another factor is the person/couple's level of experience. Until you actually have used and owned a boat in the waters that you will be cruising, you really don't know the answers to those questions. You might think you know, but experience is the best teacher.
Ahhh Yes... Experience! An important part of the "boat-choosing-equation" that makes the correct choice of a boat much more possible to occur.
Talking about choosing the "correct" boat by you, or me, or Walt is slanted at best in regard to newbies trying to do the same thing. Cause they just don't/can't know what really makes the right boat "correct" to own... but we do!
I spoke with Friar George before he found his boat.... hope that helped.
BTW - Where is the good Friar. Haven't heard from him for months. RT might know??