I'm lately slightly disconnected, but have observed some patterns. Take it from someone that rarely needs support, I typically am savvy enough/rarely do over complicated server stuff ( I can actually handle some linux console stuff, but is not my preference). From what I read is your usage, you handle a bunch of things, yet not something of extreme requirements. Still, as you probably know, you need to read carefully the TOS for CPU share usage limits, number SQL entries, etc, that could affect more the forum, not only space and bandwidth, maybe some other apps you might have. I'm a web coder (learning JS currently, long time in a place where my colleague would code all the ruby and JS, bad habits) , so kind have dealt with deeper stuff than the average joe, but am not a backend, I don't deal with databases. The common factors these years for me, are surely known places for you too, but here I go :
About Godaddy or 1 & 1, etc... yep, probably I wouldn't register in these.... not necessarily bad, but I wouldn't. That said, I believe often negative critics are a bit often over the top (not thinking about any comment in this thread!), sometimes competitors in disguise, or cases of ppl being quite less savvy, and then when charged less, by business model, it SOMETIMES means less intensive support, which if not very very savvy, can be fatal. For me, I'm not a genius, but up time is what counts, mostly, that the server wont go down, and if their package and TOS fits the specific needs I have each time or for whatever person. So, instead of speaking badly about some (I've been watching threads in WHT and other places many years) , I'll speak great about others I feel confident about :
- Hawkhost.
www.hawkhost.com Haven't checked lately, but my experience when I was registered for a pair of years: Nice people, solid, serious service, a small, but sturdy efficient business. Surely family based, not a huge thing like hostgator. Prices are very good for what they offer, but they tend to be cautious in not giving crazy specs. Still, you want to check if there's some package that fit your needs. These are good people, and all times I checked, very active in WHT, that's a huge PLUS. As in any of these cases : they have their a large portion of their reputation from there, and they protect it, so, any critical issue would be attended pretty fast if exposed in the forums. But in the case of Hawkhost, if you get no reply by ticket (extremely unlikely, they had very good support and speed in my experience) I'd bet is just some spam filter issue, as I can't think of them ignoring a single ticket.
- Hostgator.
www.hostgator.com Huge specs ( a bit of overselling, like a lot do today, but as you know, is something kind of under control (balanced by the many clients that purchased more than they use, if they use the stuff at all)) . I hosted some ppl with it, went well. Also, they lately have good reputation, for already quite some time. But have not seen them reply in WHT, probably don't need it, they're very big. That means nothing. Ppl do nice reports of them, I think last time I checked stuff in WHT was months ago.
- Hostmantis.
www.hostmantis.com My current server. I got a crazy deal for life, great coupon (until stopping it myself, ofc, a new register would require I'd pay the normal price) with plenty of bandwidth and space. They work well, feedback is nice in WHT, good reputation. Really GOOD prices. Very hard to get a better deal anywhere (not thinking about coupons, it's so even without coupons. So, you can imagine...). I'm on a Linux server. If your sites are very demanding (am thinking about the forum) not sure, as haven't had that, and these are really low prices compared to the other two. For a heavy load you might want to look hostgator, but who knows. I'd try the ones I find more trusty myself (in that matter, specially Hawkhost. Then hostmantis, then hostgator. Is just that maybe the hostgator specs match it better. Can be decided by comparing the TOS about CPU share, SQL entries....)
Those are the three I always recommend, year by year. Unless they'd have changed drastically what they've been doing along so many, many years... these are good to go. In my own preference order : 1) Hawk, 2) Mantis 3) Hostgator
if you are rich, surely rackspace (
www.rackspace.com ) is another kind of level.... But most of us aren't....
This one is what I've heard companies use for a more fail proof system than the average web hosting server.
Also, for domains, I never changed, always happy with Namecheap
www.namecheap.com (I definitely don't recommend the hosting they offer. Neither Godaddy's hosting These companies are fine for domains, and is in what they have more specialization, IMO). I'm one of those who likes to have the domain apart from the hosting, yet fully parked with them so the get the best SEO juice. (so, rarely use the domain company's cloaking service, is usually bad for SEO, with any company. And redirections, usually a 302 if needed, not 301, to preserve the SEO juice) . I kind of saved several situations when a hosting -none of these 3- went bad, as having the domain apart, they can't trap you, you can go preparing an alternative hosting with no real downtime. Can have an alternative hosting while long down times in the current hosting (now, if a long down time happens... must be very exceptional and well explained for me not leaving.... )
You're now collecting all you can, so I guess all adds up. Good luck !