Especially if you're lucky enough, like me, to live near a Costco that does in-store roasting! I buy beans that are still warm.

The whirly-blade grinders are fine for most people--just make sure you get the timing right so your grind is the correct consistency.

Honestly, I think the quality of the beans and the roast trumps whether they are pre-ground or whole bean. I've had pre-ground coffees that are bursting with flavor and have a wonderful, buttery smoothness and whole-bean, freshly-ground coffees that have been disgustingly bitter and tangy. But all other things being equal, if you can get your favorite roast in whole-bean form, it has a slight edge in flavor and lasts longer before going stale.