Blogging Tools & Hosts

I am thinking of changing blogging tools and am researching the following list (subject to change and additions):

• Vox
• Movable Type
• LiveJournal
• WordPress

Obviously, I am just starting the research; 3 of these 4 are from six apart. My basic criteria is that it needs to be free, easy to use, and have the ability to apply a lot of custom templates/plug-ins with little effort. Just because I work with information technology doesn't mean I want to spend a lot of it related to this hobby.

This list could grow if I am open to finding my own host. Which, I would be willing to do if the cost was minimal or free.

So. While I am trying to find some free time to research this, if anyone out there has thoughts on blogger alternatives (that require or do not require hosting options), I would love to hear them. At the moment (not based on many facts yet), I would say that I am thinking that I may try out WordPress and see what I think...