I've been doing cakes for about 5 years now. I have 3 of the kitchenaid stand mixers: the Artisan 5 quart tilt-head, the 6 quart pro bowl lift, and the 7 quart pro bowl lift. All 3 of them get the job done but I always pick the tilt-head over the bowl lift. I just feel like they're more convenient to use!
AAs a hobbyist, you might do just fine with the 5qt tilt head. But keep in mind bowl capacity. It's a bit harder to double a batch of cake or icing in a 5qt, than a 6. I work with both tilt and bowl lift at work, and you get used to either one.
I double my cake recipes and frostings all the time in the 5qt without a problem. I actually am even able to triple my cake mix recipe in the 5qt!
AYes. 1 quart makes a difference. I can double some recipes, but not all of them. If my bowl gets too full, some ingredients don't always get incorporated well enough. You would be amazed at the difference it can make.
In my opinion, the kitchen aid brand is a little over rated. I definitely agree about the tilt head being preferable. I would get a mixer with the biggest bowl I could afford. For my small mixer I use this hamilton beach commercial grade 7 qt mixer. It's ugly, but easier to clean and more heavy duty ... and the head tilts back. Last time I checked it's about $100 less expensive than it's kitchen aid counterpart which I believe doesn't have a tilt back head.
So a decision has to be made on whether the purpose of the mixer is to match your pot holders or be utilitarian. If you're comparing less expensive home style models of the kitchen aids, I imagine there are also cheaper alternative brands. Also, as far as I know, kitchen aid mixers are no longer commercial grade (made to last) the way they used to be, other than the one I mentioned which is specifically labeled commercial (not professional or artisan). I wouldn't stake my life on that, so maybe double check. The commercial kitchen aid is 8 qt, btw.
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