Welcome to our forum.
My thought is in 2006 they may have still been spray foam and that is a repair that is more of a big deal to find and fix and maybe a repair they would want to do in their shop and not out on your deck in the cold.
It is funny you mentioned the lounger seat and it is what sold us in some way on the Geneva and we love it and fight over that seat. Again everyone is different.
The Vanguard is our ideal, but the Grandee is only only a few hundred more and we loved the handheld control. The extra space would be nice as well since we have kids who use it.
It's just now making it's way onto showroom floors, but there is a Vanguard NXT and Aria NXT spa with those wireless removable remotes. That's new this year!
Based on what I know, the Vanguard NXT may be slightly lower priced than the Grandee (maybe the same.)
Since you like the "Captain's Chair" have you looked at the Envoy? It's got the Captain's Chair and then a lounge with a Moto Massage. Comes with the wireless control system as well. Both available in the Regular and NXT version. Unless you like non-lounge seating in which case this whole comment is mute
Exxcellent! What watercare are you going with? We just acquired a Vanguard NXT on our showroom floor about a week ago here and it's beautiful.
Have you used Bromine before?