Yes, the Prowler was my #1 choice. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to go to Whidbey Island before we lost it. My wife and I want to retire there when the time comes. It's not for everyone though, the island is quite isolated (2 hours to Seattle) and there's very little night-life. We can talk a lot more about that if you're still interested.
I was told it was a "guaranteed" follow-on to the Strike Eagle. Turns out that nothing is guaranteed in the AF, unless it's in writing (even then, things can change). I had to fill out the ADP and compete for a Strike Eagle B-Course slot. It worked out, but I think it's the AF's chance to weed out weaker guys if they need to (I can't blame them for that).
It was not easy to transition since the Strike Eagle B-Course is quite demanding, even if you are fairly competent. It took a long time to get rid of the Navy habits (though it only took one kick in the junk for not standing up while briefing wx/notams/ep!!). Hopefully with the CSO training, you're already getting an Air Force base of knowledge, instead of being fully Navy-indoctrinated. Is that true?
The tour timing in the EA-6B is 3 years total, including about 10 months at the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS = FTU). However, during that 10 months, you work about 4-5 hours a day (standard Navy training). The operational squadrons are changing to boat-going squadrons (7 months in an 8-man room). I spent a week on the boat and can talk to you more about that if you care. I know a guy that just finished his Prowler tour and went on one 6-month deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan (expeditionary squadron = land based) and 7 months on the boat. With about 4 months of work-ups on the boat, that left him very little time at home. My experience was the opposite. I did one 6 month deployment to Bagram, then various TDYs, but nothing else substantial. I got about 600 total hours and 300 combat hours (we only flew once or twice a week while at home).
The disadvantage of going to the Prowler first is that it essentially removes you from the pool of WIC candidates (you'd be getting pretty old once you got enough experience in your primary airframe).
I can probably talk all day about Prowlers/Strike Eagles, so please ask any other questions and I'll try not to continue rambling!
Smokus