Rdln, I agree with you… probably first post ever about a pool table here.
Duber34, my two cents would be to get the nicest table you can/want to afford. Once you get a ‘lesser’ table (however you define that) you will end up wanting the better table. That’s how I am anyway, so just bite the bullet and do it right upfront. My over riding logic is, a good shooter can shoot on a bad table but a bad shooter...well... never mind /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
My vote would be slate and for me, especially since you mention the dehumidifier, I’d get the hardwood if possible.
I grew up with a table in basement, it was an inexpensive table, had ball returns, particle board surface (I think). The walkout basement was finished but the pool room was on the side completely buried under grade and we never had any issues with humidity.
Get some decent sticks too, I stumbled onto the revelation that I like a heavy stick. Interestingly enough, I prefer the TOP half to be heavy also. As heavy as I want the top half to be, I want it to be very thin with a nice tip in it.
I had several sticks and because of warp-age, mixed two of them and LOVED the resultant top heavy thin stick. I went to a pool place all the time and left my favorite stick in the office, so I’d not have to carry back/forth.
Went back couple weeks later & they went out of business… stick gone, lesson learned. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif