Help: Machine Control Software Advice

I've gone back over the archives looking for some clear recommendations on
low-end step/direction machine control software and have found there are
about as many opinions as there are packages.

I'm looking to control a MAXNC 15 primarily to make 2-D panels with
cutouts. There seems to be some consensus the MAXNC software is pretty
bad. Further, the unipolar, non-chopper drive supplied by MAXNC is quite
slow. So I'm leaning towards Dan Mauch's 2 amp or 5 amp controllers and
some decent motors. The software choice, however, is a lot tougher.

I currently use QuickCad (by Autodesk) for drawings. It would be great to
import dxf files one way or another and be able to tweak the G-code and
go. What do folks think of Yeager's CNC Pro? What about DeskNC? For more
money, there are options like Bobcad. And finally, there's all the various
DOS/Windows freeware like Kellyware's K-CAM, Stepster and Master Control
CNC? I'm not crazy about Linux so EMC probably isn't a good choice.

I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here, but you'd think there would be
some standout software in this crowd? Has anyone had experience with
several packages? I'm mainly looking for ease of use. Thanks!

Mike