I'm just not so sure about the hands down bit. The advantages are many, but the problem is that the card ain't no spring chicken. That's fine for Mame, but what if you wanted to play some newer games on your cab? How about some racing games? Rallisport or Colin McRae 3 are both more fun than just about any of the classic arcade racers. I want my cab to play all the classics I grew up with, but I'd like it to be as versatile as possible. If that means I've got to have a little more stretching, etc. on some games I'm okay with that. It just depends which tradeoff is for you. Sacrifice authenticity of some of the classics for ability to play the latest and greatest or vice versa.
I'm taking my audience into consideration... it was a whiskeroids post, after all...
If someone is asking the question, that was asked... they are most likely so nub that directing them to the AVGA card is probably the best step to at least physically connect your PC to an arcade monitor with the least amount of hassle.
The O.P. did not specify what he was using it for and made the blanket, "help me, cuz I'm too lazy to help myself blanket question." so I gave him the blanket, brief answer.
I'm gonna pull an HC on you and say, why are you trying to play those "modern" games on an arcade monitor? And if you did want to, what better way to get your stuff on an arcade monitor than the AVGA card. It's not like you are gonna get more than 640x480 interlaced on to the screen...
So tell me mr smarty pants, if it's not the best way to interface a PC to an Arcade monitor, what is your alternative, specifically to play NON-mame games...
You gonna use a scan converter? blech.. you gonna use power strip or some other util and tweak endlessly to get your "more modern" card to work with the arcade monitor (good luck with that, have fun...) you still have to hack your own VGA cable... and good luck to you if you start sending a VGA signal to your arcade monitor.
The only other alternative is to use a JPAC and a newer card.. but you still have to tweak the drivers some how...
The other alternative is the costly D9200 and the like monitors, but i'll go out on a limb that if somone is asking "how to hook pc up to the arcade monitor" they don't have that style VGA connector Arcade monitor...
I never said AVGA was perfect, it isn't (both for the reasons you stated and some others)... but it's the simplest and best way to interface with a standard res CGA arcade monitor (i.e. I stand by my original statement until proven otherwise) \
*shrug*
rampy