Hi Rockafeller,
Looks like you are definitely looking in the right direction
I would recommend our new line of FT products. The FT40 and FT60 sound like they would fit your needs best. And have user changeable batteries.
If you do go with the F-series product, such as the F6 or F11 - they are VERY solid.I'm a huge fan of the F11. We do recommend the service to be done by a service center, but the turn around time is a matter of days(1-3 days depending on service center) and the cost is always under $15.00. Which is not bad, considering this is a complete service, cleaning, testing with a service and battery warranty.
The process is painless, we keep your training in mind
Please let me know if you have any specific questions regarding our product, or heart rate training in general. I'll be more than happy to respond the best I can so you can make an educated decision on your purchase.
Chris @ Polar