I think it really depends on budget. As noted, there are places to hike almost everywhere. In addition to all of the mountains listed, I wouldn't ignore The
Maricopa Trail, which is all over the entire area, even in metro areas. Parts of it are alongside canals. No, it may not be as scenic or well-known as Camelback (I have hiked that and agree is is nice), you'll see an entirely different side of the area. At times you'd be able to look right into some backyards. You can get a sneak peak into the Biltmore Resort from it.
Sure, if you have $300+ to spend per night, then definitely look into the Phoenician or similar. But if you want to put that into a third, then I suspect you'll be looking more toward Tempe, or other suburbs for more reasonable hotel rates. You might be driving, but so long as you avoid rush hour, it usually isn't too bad.