I'm also told that the exp. penalty becomes more noticable at mid-levels
and up and that thet difference in a human hybrid and an "other" hybrid
(specifically Paladin, SK players) gets to be noticable. I spoke just
yesterday to someone who switched from a Troll SK to a Human Paladin (same
hybrid penalty, but no race penalty) since they had gotten frustrated at
L15+. I don't know if the Bard has as significant a penalty as some of
the hybrids (my Bards stay low leveled because this middle aged person has
a skill cap on her mash key skill). I also think from personal experience
(empirical data only!) that some races may have more/less of an exp.
penalty. Though access to good non-overcrowded hunting grounds with a
spawn rate exceeding your rest time seems to have a bigger effect on
ability and time to level than any bonus/penalty IMHO.

Though I agree with the personal preference option. Also the vision may be
more of an issue with a Bard since many of the caster classes get vision
spells and/or light spells. Some of the light spells at L1, and vision
spells as early a L9.

- Lora