AWS or dedicated server?
aristus: I've done AWS, dedicated, and colo. Each one has their own tradeoffs.AWS is daunting at first -- but then so is Debian. Once you figure out the keys thing and your base image it's fairly easy (also see ElasticFox, S3Browser). You might as well learn it, even if you stick with dedicated hosting for other reasons.Things not to sneeze at:
    * elastic: start up a dozen servers in a few minutes
    * free access to s3 storage
    * crazy awesome pay-as-you-go bandwidth (250mbps)
    * expensive for the CPU/RAM you get
    * virtual disks can be slow on random seeks
    * sorry, no cPanel (though see RightScale)
    * poor locality of servers