Patrick Neave , Aug 20, 2007; 08:20 a.m.
Lightroom and Elements are aimed at two different types of markets. They are not the same, from what you are describing here Elements is what you need.
Lightroom is aimed at someone with a couple of hundred images that wants to rate, sort, and do some post processing. Then output them to web or print etc.
I know you say cost is only a minor issue but Elements is also a third the price.