Last week I bought a new Z7. I shot a new Hoyt, a PSE and I shot the Monster. I have shot Mathews Solocams for nearly 10 years now and I simply don't like the feel of the others. What I want is a smooth draw cycle with out a lot of creep. I hated the Black Max from a few years ago and I didn't care for the Monster and one of the new PSE speed bows (sorry, I don't remember which one) because I felt like it was trying to yank it's self out of my hand at full draw! I also want a nice slim grip and it has to be quiet. Really the last one isn't too tough to find because all of the major bow manufacturers have that down pat, and if not there is a blue million noice and vibration dampning products out there. The other thing that's important is warranty. I don't trade bows very often (I'm on a 6 or 7 year cycle) so I want to make sure that if anything happens to it the company has the integrity to stand behind their product. No one is perfect and when you manufacture products, sometimes $hit happens. And I don't mind as long as a company is willing to make it right.
As far as ATA and brace height...This Z7 is BY FAR the shortest thing I have ever shot. I have always has the belief that the short ATA bows aren't as accuate as the longer ones on the 3-D course and I don't have the money to have 2 bows so that's important to me. That damn Z7 is only 30" ATA but the reviews and awards it's won this year are 2nd to NONE, so when I needed to buy a bow last week I had to try it. Much to my surprise the limbs are so parallel that the riser is as long as many 36" bows and that platform is extremely stable in your hand. I have been shooting it at 40 yards consistantly and I am amazed at how accurate it is. I also like at least a 7" brace height and that's mainly due to the comfort at full draw and lack of string creep.
Of course speed is important, but with any of the new bows from the major manufacturers you're gonna get over 310-315, so that really wasn't a stat that I looked at much. My Z7 is set at 69 pounds and that thing really flings an arrow!!!
I guess how I'll end my little tirade by saying what's the most important thing to me is I want a bow that I love shooting so much that I can hardly wait to pick it up and shoot again. I felt that way with my LX and so far it has bothered me to go 3 or 4 days with out shooting my Z7! That kind of "passion" or "love" for a product will result in me being a much better archer and hunter because of experience and familiarity. As much as I shoot I know that when I draw on that trophy of a life time and let that arrow fly, that arrow will go right through the lungs of that big boy and he will be on the wall next fall!
Sounds to me like you felt that way about your Drenalin my friend, I say go get her buddy!
Good luck with your decision!