Thanks for the replies everyone. I finally got out on the ice with my new skates. The Risport dance boot are STIFF. Wow. I don't know how they come up with those "stiffness ratings" numbers, because these are much stiffer than the Riedells I was wearing and the number isn't as high. That said, I like low boots and I can bend forward so I think it will be fine. They just aren't as "cushy" inside as the Riedells. I do like the swirly pattern on the side though.
As for the blades, I really didn't know what to do. I wasn't in love with the SuperDance 99s, on which I always seemed to want to do a face plant going backwards, and I went back and forth between sticking with an 8 foot rocker and going with a 7, sticking with slimline vs regular... In the end my desire for some toe picks won out and I ended up with Coronation Dance blades, 9 3/4 inches (vs 10 3/4 on my old skates). Here is the best part - they are great! I can honestly say I did not notice a rocker difference, nor do I notice the shortness. I'd like to think I was just never meant for an 8 foot rocker, or else these just have a rocker profile that puts my weight where I want to put it naturally and doesn't force me to change. I also think the too-big boots were making my feet sit funny over the other blades, and the ball of my foot and heel were not in the right spot, making my off balance.
What I DO notice is that the run of the blade isn't *quite* as nice as the SuperDance, which I'm attributing to the slimline blade. Those blades felt really fast and smooth and these feel just not quite the same. The boots felt stiff though so I'm sure that didn't help with my knees and power. Going from a slimline 8 foot rocker (that was an inch longer!) to a regular width 7 foot rocker would also likely make me feel a little less fast too.
I wonder why more synchro skaters don't try the Coronation Dance? The picks are the same as Coronation Ace (as far as I know, and they certainly look like regular picks), and they have the shorter tail. The price isn't outrageous either. I did some waltz jumps no problem, which I NEVER would have attempted in the dance blades.