I'm not sure about Nick, but Gusev Crater was my favorite all along, and primarily for geological reasons.

As for the wind shear issues at Gusev, they're pretty much the same (i.e., marginal), at least according to the models, for all of the ellipses that were considered. To lessen the risk, NASA and JPL have decided to fly the Descent Image Motion Estimation System (DIMES) on at least MER-A (Gusev) and possibly MER-B (Meridiani Planum). DIMES will serve to cue transverse firing rocket motors to help null out the shear and make landing more survival (i.e., less chance of airbag rupture).

To see the current Gusev ellipses, centered west of Thyra, see the following two links:

Low Resolution

High Resolution

Alex R. Blackwell
University of Hawaii