You decided against getting a Border Collie?
Hmm... have you considered Aussie rescue? The breed is VERY common in shelters and rescues, simply because like Border Collies, most people cannot handle the energy and intelligence. I know several people who have adopted wonderful Aussie puppies and adults. Are you planning on working/breeding/dog sports?
If not... why are you against a dog with a CH? If you can find a good breeder that works their dogs AND shows them, what's the problem? There are some nice breeders out there that breed for working ability as well as conformation. With BCs, yes, an AKC CH is very...
taboo with working enthusiasts. But that is because the Border Collie is bred for their working style solely. I don't feel the same about Aussies getting a CH, even though I can't say I'm a fan of big, floofy show Aussies. There is a nice medium in the breed, though.
Also, why are you against breeders who also have Mini Aussies? I understand being against Toy Aussies, but there are some very nice Mini Aussies out there.
I think the best place to look for working breeders is probably going to be ASCA herding trials... I would say trials in general, but, those tend to be dominated by BCs. Have you checked out this list?
http://www.asca.org/Finding+an+Aussie/Breeders+Directory
I can definitely empathize with you. When I was considering a working Aussie puppy, I was shocked by how difficult it was to find good breeders. Just, shocked. It took a lot of prying, and work, but I did find some fantastic local breeders who I was able to meet. The thing I noticed... most working breeders do not have a need to advertise. People who actually own working dogs, and produce litters, often keep puppies and might sell a few to other local ranchers. Their pups are typically in very high demand, locally.