Heeeey, you'd totally be my neighbor if you moved (I live on Steinway near 21 Av.)
Ok. This is why I like it better up here (and yes, we're north of you guys, despite the bizarre fact that the avenues go down in numbers as you get further north, and the streets go lower in numbers as you go west - seriously, everything about us is opposite of Manhattan, hahah...)
Anyway. I like it up here since (and I realize a lot of these have to do with owning a car/driving, don't know if that's a factor for you) its quieter and cleaner but still distinctly Astoria, you always get a seat on the N/W and the train never expresses past us (since we're the last stop), also there is almost always a train waiting so if its snowing/raining/hot/cold, you don't have to stand out on the platform, it feels more neighborhoody (to me, anyway, but that may be because I've been here for 2 years), its closer to the bridges and the GCP for when you need to leave the city, the traffic isn't as crazy, its easier to park up here, we have Best Yet (supermarket), Ditmars Gyro Place (YUM!), Thai Elephant (DOUBLE YUM!), its about a 15 minute walk to Astoria Park, that
new place that everyone's talking about that I haven't gotten around to checking out yet is here, and a whole bunch of other things that I can't really think of at the moment.
I don't know that I would live in the Broadway/Steinway area. Too busy and loud for me, and I can't imagine finding a parking spot is any fun. The Q101 will get me to that area anyway in under 10 minutes if I need to get down there. I guess I'd live there if I had a garage/driveway. Up here, I usually get a spot either right out front or around the corner on 20th Rd.