Just wondering how everyone weighs the security and rapport of a “regular” against  the pleasures of the smorgasbord offered on the net. Is it better to stay with the name you know or is variety truly the spice of life?

Stay with what, who you know. It less expensive and typically more satisfying. If you need eye-candy, go to a strip club and drop a few ones; in this case, its cheaper than the smorgasborg.