I liked both the long and short versions.
I liked Mansfield Park, the least
I'm sorry to disagree, but still liked it better than most books written by other authors. The problem was Fanny. She was too perfect for me. I wanted her to throw a tantrum or tell Aunt Norris "I WILL NOT DO ...". I wanted her to get mad and do something other than be longsuffering all the time. And, I felt a little irked with Edmund for not seeing that Mary was not a moral person, but actually kind of mercenary. She makes the comment at one point about if Tom died, then Edmund would be the heir (she doesn't say this to Edmund, but to Fanny, but my Lord, Edmund- don't be so STUPID). Lol. Don't get me wrong, I think you are right, Edmund and Fanny are well suited, but I would not have much minded if she ended up with Tom and reformed him.
Persuasion is my favorite. I think the love between Anne and Captain Wentworth was so deep and true, it withstood the test of time. It is the saddest book to me, the first time I read it, I suffered with Anne thinking that Frederick would never forgive and he would end up with someone else, and she could not share her pain. It's beautiful to me, but not as witty or polished, like you said.
Pride and Prejudice is probably third, because of the characters and the wit. Lizzie is a great heroine because she is not perfect. She misunderstands Darcy, she snaps at her mother at times, she is initially taken in by Wickham's story. She's fallible. Her speech to Lady Catherine de Bourgh is priceless. I'm one of the ones in love with Darcy. His first proposal speech was insulting (I love you despite myself), but think about it, isn't that kind of finer in a way? Loving someone despite yourself? I would have married him then and there and the book would have been much shorter.
Sense and Sensibility is next, I know what you mean about Marianne. Heck, I'm 20 years older than you and probably more of a Marianne than an Eleanor. Really, though, the love between the sisters stands out in this book more than the romantic love plot lines. It's Eleanor and Marianne- two very different women, but they love each other and have a bond unlike any other. Some of this is seen in P&P with Lizzie and Jane- the tender sister relationship. I love Alan Rickman's Colonel Brandon, what a voice! I'm older than you, though. So he may not have the same kind of attraction to you.
Emma is next, I like the wit, the plot and the characters- as vivid as the ones in P&P, but there is something lacking in Emma. I liked Jane Fairfax better than Emma. I think what makes me angry with Emma is that she persuades Harriet not to marry the farmer (forget his name) when it is obvious that Harriet actually loves the farmer. So Emma's meddling gets on my nerves a little bit. Also, I didn't think Frank Churchill was such a bad dude. I know he was hiding his attachment to Jane Fairfax, but it didn't seem such a big deal, and he bought her a piano anonymously which was super romantic.
I agree with you about Northanger Abbey, it is not as witty and the characters not as memorable. I liked Henry Tilney a lot, but he is no Captain Wentworth or Mr. Darcy.
Sorry for my equally long post. I'm very pleased to meet a fellow Austenite. If you haven't seen Austenland with Kerri Russell, it's worth a watch. It's not the best movie in the world- rather silly, but Austen fans would get a kick out of it, I think.
In conclusion, I leave you Edmund, and I'll take Captain Wentworth.
Thanks for posting.