In a nutshell you have the keys reasons we moved from the Broads.
The Broads have a charm and character of their own but when you want more than turn up and go boating and more sea based work it really does not work that well unless you are passage making rather than wanting a quick overnight.
You have either the 'clat' to get in and out through Mutford or use Yarmouth. Once you are through the pier heads you can either do the 'island' or run down to Southwold if you want an overnight stop. I like Southwold as a town but like others I am less than enamoured with the harbour but given the choices available there really is no where else much to go, I have also probably been spoilt by our current stomping ground. If the weather is settled Wells could be a possibility particularly as it is in the process of being dredged to give a bigger window.
Personally I don't get a great deal of pleasure from just blatting about with no real destination save for the odd spider clearing session but I can perfectly see that a 'run out' is what is required by many folks to gently cut their teeth in the salt stuff and is a prudent way to gain confidence. To hone skills a bit further and picking a settled period then personally I would be looking to run down to the Orwell and have a few night there if you are looking to combine a short hop destination with skill honing, it would certainly beat Southwold for me but then we are all made different.
One of the reasons we moved to the Orwell was to have more scope for weekends/holidays when in almost any weather you can get out somewhere, it is very much you pays your money and takes your choice.
If we have our fill of being sea based some time in the years to come (I can't imagine that at present) then the Broads would certainly be back on our list. I can perfectly understand the decision that John & Mary Jane made recently and their choice of ship to do it.