Self Hosting vs. WordPress.com

Greetings all,

I’m currently on WordPress.com and am trying to learn more about the self hosting option. As quick intro, I’ve been building sites since the 90’s but have only been using WP a few months. I’m chewing on questions like this…

Self hosting WP seems cheaper than WP.com, and more importantly a regular hosting account would allow me to install any kind of software. At least some of the regular hosts offer monthly billing which I prefer over yearly billing, the only option at WP.com.

On the other hand, I’m pretty impressed with the “Happiness Engineers” at WP.com, and know from many years of experience that quality support is not the norm at very many hosts. After too many years online I’m pretty weary of host hopping.

Also, being new to WP I’m not that knowledgable about what I would have to know and do with self hosting that WP.com takes care of behind the scenes.

I would welcome discussion of quality WordPress focused hosting companies if that is permitted here. Feel free to warn me of not so great hosts too if you want. Quality is more important to me than price, but I seem to have a philosophical objection to yearly billing.

I’m sure such subjects have already been discussed a number of times, so links to such discussions are appreciated if that’s your preference.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.