what (ugh) electronic piano should I buy?

I just tried out a bunch of these at the store (Guitar Center) yesterday, and the only one I liked was the http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/casio-cdp-120-88-weighted-key-digital-piano - it really, truly felt like a real piano, and runs around $450 to $500 without the pedals, bench, or stand. I played on a Yamaha baby grand for about 10 years and I thought I was too spoiled to ever switch to an electronic keyboard, but for space reasons I have to do the same thing that you do. I messed with Rolands, Yamahas, Casios, and Wurlitzers in a variety of price ranges - and this one was by far the best, feel-wise. I really loved it, and I'm in the same boat as you: I really, really hate the idea of an electronic piano, and am hugely picky, but the CDP120 - man, I would totally get one if it wasn't about $100 over my budget right now. As it stands, I'm looking at the Casio PX150, which had an OK feel that I got used to after a few minutes of playing. It had a nicer sound, but didn't feel as great as the CDP120. It was, however, about $100 less expensive, so it fits my budget.

With the caveat that this was almost 10 years ago, I had very similar opinions and parameters as you in choosing my digital piano. If you are used to a Yamaha, you may disagree with me, but in general my feeling about the Yamaha line was that the action felt really good, but the piano tones were a little bright for my taste. On the other hand, I liked the tones on most of the Rolands and Korgs I tried, but the action was too light and the keys felt plasticky. I ended up going with the Technics SX P50, which satisfied me on both counts, and I've been very happy with it. This model appears to be long discontinued, but at the time I'm pretty sure it cost around $900. I also once had a roommate who had a pretty similar Kawai piano that I really liked; I don't remember the model but I ended up not getting it because it was a good bit more expensive. In any case, I recommend you look at both of these brands. In my experience, all-around places like Guitar Center may not carry them—when I got to an actual piano dealer, I was much happier with the offerings. Again, I haven't been there in years, and this is not where I purchased the Technics, but I have had good experiences at http://www.bostonorganandpiano.com/contact.php on Route 9 in Natick.

I bought a Korg Sp-250 on the recommendation of several pianist friends, and I've been very happy. The weight feels very good to me.

I have a Casio PX830 Privia and I like the feel of it. I like the feel more than the sound, which is sometimes kind of tinny/electronicy. It feels a lot like a real piano to me. I paid ~$1000 for it. Also: I really tried to find a used piano, but the market seems really messed up - people want *way* too much for their old-ass digital pianos.

I've been delighted with my Roland HP203, but I paid something like $2,600 for it. Good key action is one of the reasons why more expensive digital pianos are more expensive. It's still cheaper than a decent upright, new. (I do not group the inexpensive pianos among the decent.)

My wife must've tried every keyboard in the Boston area before she, too, settled on a Casio CDP120. She's been very happy.

I didn't like the touch of the yamahas either. We ended up with a Korg when we went digital piano shopping a couple of year ago. Our (concert pianist/ college piano professor) piano teacher thought it was a great piano, too. It was right around $1000.

I made several trips to Sam Ash and played several keyboards and took notes and talked to the salespeople. I went with a Casio PX-130. 88 keys, weighted, and decent sound. Not top of the line but adequate for my purposes and not too expensive. I've been very happy with it.

thanks so much for all these! I've decided I'm looking for one that's more than just a keyboard on a flimsy stand, i.e. it doesn't have to be portable. I want a piano-like non-piano with a backboard and pedals attached by more than a wire: it will sit permanently in my dining room. I will happily take further recommendations along these lines, but here are my takeaways from here as well as the Quora thread: - try things in a piano shop, e.g. for Boston: http://stores.guitarcenter.com/Boston, http://www.bostonorganandpiano.com/contact.php (though this seems far out of the metro area) - ask about "graded hammer action" - variations in weight between keys at the bottom and top of the keyboard - good headphones are important - second hand pianos may not be much cheaper; corollary: may not be able to sell mine for too much when I leave my list of models to try out: - Casio CDP120 (many +1s in this thread) - Korg SP250 (seems recommended by high-level pianists) - Roland HP203 and Roland RD700 - Roland V-Piano (top of the range, entirely improbable at $6000 but worth playing for a sense of the quality ceiling for electronic pianos)