Blog software preferences, if you have any.

I would imagine we have more than a few bloggers here.  If you have reservations about outing your real-world self, that's not my interest here.  I'm only looking for software\hosting preferences.

The biggest two look to be Blogger and WordPress, or at least it seems that way as a surfer.  I've looked at both, but not seriously enough to start a blog.  Other than Google-hosted v owned, does anyone have strong opinions one way or the other?  If you prefer or use something other than the two, by all means, jump in.

Thanks, man.  WP seems more the way I want to go.  I like the ownership aspect.  I'm a bit worn down on Google running the world.  Similar to Apple and their control obsession - you'll use these cables, you'll use this cloud, you'll update to this version now, etc. 

I'd rather pay to host and have some say over my own content.

Did you start with the free and migrate later to paid or did you go paid to start?

Fantastic!  Both are great examples and exactly what I was looking for.  Thanks again for the help.  Great job on your wife's store (I watched her TV segment). 

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*edit*

  I had wives store.  I think that's an entirely different kind of business.  ;-)