I don't think Cumberland can compare to KY Lake but we all have our preferences. I really despise going to Cumberland in the summer mostly due to how crowded it can be. It's also hard to beat many of the towns in Western KY as compared to the Jamestown/Somerset area. If you are looking for housing "On" the lake Cumberland doesn't offer many options but there is housing nearby. I don't see barge traffic as a negative either. There are just so many places and options on KY and Barkley that it's hard to compare to any other lake nearby. The only downfall in your list of options is the proximity to airports but it's not exactly a short drive from Jamestown to Louisville so that's a wash too.