I like these slippery slope discussions on piano's. One minute I'm looking for a step up piano from my parents hand me down Jantzen. The next minute I'm trying to figure out where I can fit a full grand Steinway in my house!
It is a buyers market on piano's right now. On Craigslist, at least 2-4 show up a day on average. I think my first choice for size and sound would be full size (50" height) Kawai or Yamaha upright. There is just too many out there to buy one new, as long as your patient. My children are not at the level yet that they even really care, except possible my son. I am the one more interested because I like what I hear, especially from a better piano. I do have a very qualified tuner/repairman that will check anything out I'm interested in. He is the one actually telling me that this baby grand is a great deal, as long as the piano checks out.