Hey Bobbin, like you I hate cold and avoid a/c unless mandatory (our heat waves). We're building two story and originally going to put in a couple of split systems only.
Our current 60yo house has one box/wall/window a/c in my husband's workroom at front of house. We only use it on day three of a heat wave (over 35ish). Just by controlling doors (keeping closed) we can keep his room, two bedrooms, passage and kitchen (where we 'hang out') very comfortable. We also have a box A/C in our large dining/family at back of house but since analogue TV was switched off and we've decided we're leaving this joint, we just don't use that room anymore! We'll buy a new digital TV when we've settled
You could definately live with a couple of splits comfortably. They are also good for redundancy (eg. breakdown/repair) and purchase as you can afford if you find you need them.
We have an evap ducted unit in our old cottage in the mid north. We hardly use that either as the walls are 40cm thick stone with 3.6 metre ceilings (shame they don't build like that anymore!) I don't like it much coz I just don't like AC. One thing you don't hear about evap -- and we've had big probs with this in the country -- is that the moist air blowing out attracts flying insects. Maybe not a big deal in the city. I do like the fact that we have the doors and windows open while its running though.
If you don't like slightly moist air (perhaps your daughter won't) refrigerative is best but some people (my MIL included) complain ref gives them headaches.
If you prefer dry, cool air -- that's ref.
As I said above, we were almost adamant about 3 or 4 splits for our big house. We would have went wall/box but they're almost extinct. BUT ... our sales guy had a ducted system on our quote from day one. We kept saying take it off ... we ended up keeping it after visiting one of their show homes in winter which had same model. It was beautiful and warm through whole house. I hate cold more than heat BUT I'd rather rug up than chew power wastefully. And we got external quotes and thought it was a good deal ($11k) In a two storey you can't do it neatly later.
Yep, def splits are good for you. A lot of this ducted, remote business is just luxury overkill and energy chewers IMO.