I have a YJ and love driving it. Don't get one of the carbed models, stick to the EFI ones. It's great in summer, fold the top down, summer cruising. If I lived in your climate it would be a no brainer. I tow a small trailer with mine sometimes but I wouldn't want to put much behind it because of the small wheelbase. But you are correct it's not good for hauling one passenger often and there's no storage space unless I fold the seat down to take it out. And with the soft top there is no keeping things locked. I don't bother to lock the doors when they can unzip a window to get in and find the nothing I keep in there.