Thanks. These are really helpful. I am still thinking about my options here. May need a few days or even a few weeks to think about them and finally make a choice.
I don't think you have to take too much time for consideration.
~snip~I think similarly, but not the same as you - because any hasty decision can have very bad consequences. Let's say that the OP listens to someone's advice and downloads a desktop wallet - what can happen?
1. He can download a fake wallet, and if he imports private keys or makes a transaction in that wallet = game over.
2. He can take additional steps and verify the wallet files, then install the wallet and then make a transaction from blockchain wallet to his wallet - but what if he has a clipboard malware on his computer - again = game over.
You can import private key to Electrum, then move your bitcoin to another new wallet that is created by Electrum wallet too.
Back up your new Electrum wallet too.
Why pay the fee twice when you can simply send coins from an online wallet to a desktop wallet that is already secured with a seed and password? Another important thing about Electrum is that it cannot handle the import of too many private keys at once, so even though this may not be the case with the OP, it is good to keep in mind.