Great list. The Bujold is the only one here I've read; I'll have to look into the others.

Stick with Miles at least a little longer -- in general, the books get better as you go along, and the ladies get more awesome. I recently read the entire series beginning to end, and I enjoyed it immensely. I recommend reading the Cordelia books, too; the second one is really good, and they both provide much more context for Miles and the factors that make him what he is.