You doing a dropdown ceiling or hard ceiling?
Probably a drop down. Have heard hard ceilings are a pain in the ass when you are trying to run wires to your pillars or whatever. Also, KOUGZ ALERT! I have a pillar in my basement, it's structural (like all pillars).
Dropdown is a good choice. Makes it easier to run the surround sound system you plan on putting down there with the 52" right?
I agree with michigancat, if you plan on moving in the near future don't waste your time on the basement. Someone who wants the house will see the opportunity to finish it the way they want to (going back to the whole 1/2, 3/4, full bathroom thing). On the other hand, if you do finish the basement there is a possibility you could increase the value of the home by quite a bit.
I can see why houses in JC would sell. People want to get out of Missery, BA-ZING. Makes sense though that the people I know trying to sell live in smaller towns.