A popular one that is suggested is based upon calculating how much the first years web service costs for a fixed amount of web space. Since price is the only one which can be reliably quantified, it was the basis for my lists when I first started compiling them in my search for a web space provider. That will depend heavily on other factors such as how many other web sites are served from that provider, and how busy they are. And also how well connected your provider is to the backbone of the internet. These things are not easily quantified, and I have made no attempt to list them.
Service is the most intagible of all.
It is not unknown for service companies to be incredible responsive to sales requests, but then totally unresponsive when it comes to supporting you once you have signed on the dotted line. All I can suggest is searching around, and perhaps asking for recommendations on newsgroups such as alt.internet.access.wanted or from existing customers of the provider you are interested in. Refer to the list of web space providers who will host adult content. The only web space provider with whom I have recent personal experience is pair Networks . I am happy to provide my opinion on this providers if you will write and ask.