td, i would go with the hotrod tele.
i am kind of a tele "purist". i like the pickgaurd, the two pickups, and the vintage look.
here is my tele:
it's just a mexican standard tele in a natural ash finish, but i got a new pickgaurd and put a dimarzio tone zone in the bridge position. i absolutely love it though. tele's are one of my favorite guitars.
after i get a new acoustic in a couple months i would like to pick up a '72 tele thinline re-issue.
either way, i don't think you will be dissapointed, but my personal preference would be for the 52 hotrod.