Hi Mel,
I haven't read everyone's replies but this caught my eye cos you sound sooooo much like me when I first embarked on this journey!
All I can say is I totally agree with those people who replied that EDUCATING yourself, TRUSTING yourself/your instincts and having the best SUPPORT is key to a great first birth experience. The physical location is not so important (though granted, some come with more risk of intervention than others).
I have a fully supportive DP and together we hired an excellent doula, read every piece of info we could get our hands on, discussed all our options at length with her and experienced friends. For myself I did HEAPS of mental and emotional preparation and by the time week 40 rocked round I TOTALLY believed in my ability to birth my baby without intervention - but with this important caveat - that we were at a point where we felt that if any interventions were to occur they would be warranted because we wouldn't just "lie back and wait and see" what would happen. (eg if our baby had been posterior and made for a longer harder labour etc things may have gone differently)
As it was, we had a fabulous first birth experience (in a Birth Centre - though I reckon it would have been so at home or even in a labour ward).
You sound like you're on the right path and asking all the right questions hun