Blue,
Seems to me that your biggest question is really no different with Toyotas than with Malibus or MCs: do you want a V-drive or a D-drive?
My choice was the v-drive (S22 to be specific). I chose it cuz of the SUPER open seating and feeling. Feels really roomy, and that's important with a wife, two kids, and always at least a third adult, usually a pair. Bow riding is cool, but I didn't want it to be mandatory.
However, the d-drives are sweet, and less of a compromise than v-drives. Doesn't matter if you're a skier or a boarder, d-drives are better performers. Most of that is just plain old better balance.
Many will say that v-drives are better boarding boats, but I beg to differ. A d-drive starts with a wake handicap, but there is more room to play with ballast - the fat seat is a great example. Side sacks next to the d-drive's engine are another. Fat Lounge is another.
With the V-drive, you start with a little too much weight in back and go from there. No major difference, but in all honesty, if I were building a boarding boat without regard for creature comfort, I'd do d-drive.
I understand that SX boats have required ballast rework (like most other brands). As for me, I'm enjoying starting from scratch with the S22's ballast.
The bigger thing to remember than the model lineup (of which you can recite better than me ;-) is that there are three hulls - the 21, and then the 22 d- and v-drive. Three distinctly different hulls.
The Toyota's a great boat. I wouldn't have any other brand, but I also would be hesitant to recommend one to any of my friends. A regular guy would be better off with a newer Moomba than a bitchen Toyota. I love mine, and it'll be roaming the SoCal lakes for the next twenty years.
In twenty years, the thing'll still be phat.
