I do not understand why sftp is not supported natively by WordPress. This really diminishes the auto update, plugin install, etc. functionality of a great platform.
So who is the *BEST* WordPress host?
I would define best as the following:
1. Stable – not a lot of downtime
2. Fast – Want WordPress to be as snappy as possible
3. Knowledgeable about WordPress – meaning if they understand it they can optimize their environment for it.
4. Cost – last on the list for a reason – cheaper is not better in most cases.