I started with Quilt Design Wizard, but it was so limiting that I went to EQ6 right away and upgraded to 7 as soon as it became available.
I don't think you can scan in your own fabrics with Quilt Design Wizard and you're limited to the blocks contained in the program - you can't draw your own or import them from "Dear Jane" or "Farmer's Wife Sampler" CD's.
There is a current thread just started on this subject here:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-129162-1.htm
I'm crazy about EQ7, but I have to admit that it isn't terribly intuitive and I have struggled with the learning curve, which seems rather steep at times.
If you want to design your own blocks and quilt layouts, I think EQ is the only way to go - especially if you want to draw your own applique.
If you just want to audition your own fabrics with existing blocks and easy layouts, and your budget is a factor, you might want to take a look at 1-2-3 Quilt! as a cheaper alternative that's still fairly customizable.
You can go to the search link at the top of this page and do a search for software and get a lot of different discussions. :)