Aly, I have found a couple of wonderful bird communities on MSN that are specifically for bird owners, birds of all types. It might be worth your while to check them out.

http://communities.msn.com/BirdBrainz

http://communities.msn.com/BirdLoversInternational

And I have read the exact same thing about female cockatiels versus the males. My limited experience says for you to go for a male.