I'd love to say ''Just get a Hero because it's the best!" I can only say it's the best for me because it's short and spinny and comfortable and dry. Lots of just JK paddlers prefer the Villain's longer narrower style.

JK benefits are no bulkhead or seat mount screws so they don't leak or require periodic re-tightening, shock absorbing bulkhead, and notoriously forgiving and easy to roll shapes.

Other river-runners people I trust rave about are: Burn - maybe the first version more then the 2nd; Diesel - 1st version more playful than the 2nd, Remix - as long as you like a 'directional' boat that drives in a straight line, Everest - if you are a big guy, and Mystic.

You don't 'need' a longer boat for bigger water and you can still creek any boat even when it's 9' long ... so the 'fit' and 'style' of each model should be tried not just researched.

Good luck narrowing your options!
Clay