Quoting Michael Paoli via BALUG-Admin (balug-admin@lists.balug.org):
I'd still highly recommend Gandi.net.
I've just initiated transfer of both my domains to Gandi, and I'll tell you why:
Although my escalation to IWantMyName management remains unaddressed (because UK weekend), _separately_ I recently received an auto-notice:
Just wanted to let you know that the following domain name(s) will be automatically renewed in 7 days:
linuxmafia.com (cancel at https://iwantmyname.com/dashboard/domains/expire/linuxmafia.com)
Total amount: $21.49 USD
We will charge the amount due to the credit card on file in your account. Please ensure that your billing details are up to date by logging in to your account and going to this page:
https://iwantmyname.com/dashboard/account/billing
Which is, um, interesting, because...
...I never enable autorenew. Therefore, CentralNic d/b/a IWantMyName (the new regime) must have enabled it on their own initiative.
Which is, um, business fraud.
I found a place to turn that off, and did so. Then, I removed my credit card from their records, unlocked the "Transfer Lock" on both domains, then got transfer auth codes for both domains, then completed the corresponding steps at Gandi (including providing the transfer auth codes) to move both domains there.
It's possible that upper management will wake up on Monday and decide they want my renewal money after all. I hope to verify completion of transfer _before_ then, and at that point I'll send a "Good luck on your future endeavours" farewell note to IWantMyName/CentralNic's sales address.
Gandi didn't allow me to pay _two_ years' fees during tranfer, which is a slight annoyance. I hope and expect that they will not make it difficult for me to extend the domains by each an additional year after they land.
(And yes, I'm aware that I'll be not allowed to make further moves of domains for 60 days after a transfer.)