ServerBeach versus XLHost

Please note that all opinions are that of the author.

So I'm just plain jonesing to do the podcast. That means bandwidth and that means storage. And the desire to play with stuff that TextDrive* just won't support means that I'm going down the dedicated server route. Given that I'm an ex-Rackspace customer this really isn't surprising at all to me. I just like having a box which is dedicated to my whacky adventures. Example: The ability to install MySQL 5 and start using it in Python. My TextDrive won't give me that since its shared hosting. And given that I'm a true MySQL believer and my other buddy Mike says its ready then I want to be all over it. Stored procedures here I come!
So Kevin thinks I should go ServerBeach and Nick thinks I should go XLHost. XLHost is cheaper and offers remote reboot via the web which is, imho, important. XLHost also does a better job on the "Sucks" test:

• Sucks Test on ServerBeach
• Sucks Test on XLHost

So anyone out there have any direct experience with either of these guys ? Thanks in advance.
*TextDrive which both Mike and Niall recommended is actually excellent.