Thanks for the heads up on the ams rent site - it's looking like the swiss army knife of rental searches around UBC.
Also, from what I could make out from the map Point Grey, Dunbar and Kitsilano appear to be the closest with Kerrisdale a bit further out. (I had to magnify quite a bit to see the names, so I'm not sure about the actual difference). I couldn't find the Main and Commercial Drive areas. Are they a little further out? Also, I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a whole lot more interesting - in what way? Closer to downtown, more other activities, better views, better apartments, nicer restaurants? Or just a younger, more happening crowd?
I guess safety really is a factor of where one is originally from. As long as it's not exactly commonplace to have break-ins, gunshots/knives, hold-ups or shootings one should be ok
Thanks a bunch!