I am also really curious to see how the new Ruger SR22P is doing - I like the simplicity and price.
I suppose beautty is in the eye of the beholder and all that. Frankly I find it to be really ugly with all the appearance of a bad Transformer toy or like something from a really bad low budget Science Fiction movie. But then I really dislike the look and feel of the somewhat similar Walther P22.
A gun which is bought because it's cheap rather than because you like it and it fits the hand well will seldom come out to play after the first few sessions. And a gun which sits at home unused is no longer an inexpensive gun. On the other hand a gun which makes you smile and gets used a lot soon becomes a well appreciated and low cost item based on the higher degree of usage.
Would you take out and shoot your current favourite gun if you had bought something different that you didn't really like but got it anyway because it was cheap? It's the same with any gun regardless of caliber. A really nice .22 that both you and your wife really like will soon become a gun which goes out with you all the time. And such a gun would be a far better investment.
Keep in mind that you mentioned that your wife may like to shoot it. Perhaps don't assume something you like is what she would like. She doesn't tell you which underwear to buy... at least I hope not
... and for most of us buying a new gun is just as personal. If it were not then why so many choices?
So I'd start by asking her if she would like shooting a .22 and why and what sort of shooting you would like to do with a .22. If she's going to be shooting the gun at least half the time then you really need to take her out shopping for a new gun with you.
And what about rental ranges in your area? It may be worth trying out a few different models there as well. Or perhaps shooting friends that have some .22's?