I started with an Uno then put my own board together based on the Atmega1284p chip. Then I did indeed switch to the Mega 2560 when I ran out out of pins, and the 1284p circuit was a little unreliable.Are You using a UNO or Mega2560?
I switched to a MEGA2560 for the additional PWM pins it offers.
As it happens the PCBs for the 'sheild' I designed turned up yesterday.
Cheers,
Jamie.