just to clarify further, since i didn't really read your original post too closely....

for a cartridge system, to the best of my knowledge, phil is the only option. feel free to correct me, of course.

cup and spindle is not that scary. i promise. if you pack enough grease and use a plastic accordion-style sleeve, you can go quite a long while without having to repack. it's a skill worth having... that, repacking hubs, and repacking headsets.. you'll love it, i promise.

as for the best, it depends on your budget. the phil wood method is going to be the "easiest," but not the cheapest, and, frankly, i'm not convinced that phil wood bottom brackets provide better performance than a properly set up high-quality cup and spindle setup.