Taike, you may have already seen this, but I basically agree with everything this guy says. However, I think your concerns about service/repair are completely valid and I would be wary of getting anything other than the big three or at least something that I knew could be serviced locally. But read this anyway .
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-review...yType=ReviewDet ail

chas

PS: You know it's just a matter of time before Russ and I get together. He knows that he has an open invitation to my place (although I'd probably hound him to death for stories about such legends as Ray Brown plus those parts of the 60's he can remember ).