I use a 10" embroidery hoop for my detail hand sewing. I'd like a lap hoop, but that's a someday thing and I don't really hand quilt often enough to warrant it. My hoops (I have two) are plastic. I've been told tightening any hoop to tight can cause problems with the batting but I've never had that trouble.
Hmm what else? Oh if I was doing a whole quilt I'd spring for something bigger but my hands wouldn't like me much. I always use Warm and White if I'm going to hand quilt it, it just seems like a higher quality batting. I don't have any trouble getting the needle through.
I spray baste all my quilts and I've never had trouble with it shifting. :)