The most important item you left out is price - what's your budget? Also, how willing are you to learn. If you don't know CAM or CNC yet, you have a long road ahead. The Fireball is a quite capable machine, but not the stoutest. It will do VERY fine work, though. I have a bunch of stuff I have done on mine posted here:
http://public.fotki.com/mcphill/mcpi-inc/fireball/
It will indeed route hardwood (with the upgraded Bosch Colt spindle, not with a Dremel) with no issue, this is my first real 3D machining, in Oak:
http://public.fotki.com/mcphill/mcpi...e-hammer-form/
Mind you, the machine is more capable than me at the moment. I usually make a few mistakes in setup and adjustment as I make my parts. This is just a "learning platform" for me right now, as ALL the skills I am learning will be directly transferable to a large mill and milling metals (or any other material). I just wanted to start at a lower cost entry point so that I could make sure I could get from point A to B like I thought I could (I have now done so), and without breaking the bank. In the process, I have learned TONS about CNC, CAM, Scanning, Reverse Engineering, etc.