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While Cornish X are easier to pluck because they are less heavily feathered than dual purpose/heritage birds, (they have two strips down the breast that are almost naked, and fewer feathers under the wings, and fewer under the tail) I disagree that white birds in general are easier to pluck. Commercial chickens are plucked by machine anyway. (as are some home grown ones, if you buy or build a plucker) The machines remove dark feathers just as well as white feathers. If there are pin feathers left on a white bird, you just can't see them as easily.
Hand plucking, you go through the very same steps with a white bird as a dark one. I prefer dark, because I can see the feathers more easily.
Meat producers (those selling them) usually prefer white because they raise fast growing Cornish X or a similar bird, and they're white. The industry does prefer white, not because the feathers come out any easier, but because if you miss some, they're harder to see. It's purely for appearance. For home use, it doesn't really matter what color you have. When you pull out a feather, there's sometimes a little glob of gel-like stuff in the skin. On a white bird, it'll be clear or pink, so you don't notice it. On a dark bird, it may have some color to it, so you're more likely to see it. It has no effect on the flavor of the meat. Once the bird's cooked, you probably won't see it, either.
I'm fussy about getting all the pin feathers and little fluff off the skin, it's easier for me if I can see it. (my eyes are not young anymore) When I finish cleaning a bird, you usually can't tell whether it was a white one or a dark one.
So I'd go for whatever has the growth, body type, and meat qualities you prefer, and not bother about what color they are. Steve of Sands Poultry made some good suggestions. You might also try cross-breeding any of those, and see what you get.
As for broodies, dark Cornish are good brooders and good moms, so are Brahmas. My light Brahmas are fanatical brooders, but my buff Brahmas have not gone broody at all. I have read statements from other Brahma owners, that have had exactly the opposite happen. I got my originals from a show breeder, they're not hatchery stock. I have 3 Buckeye hens, one of them is broody right now, and setting on eggs. Brahmas lay a good sized egg, too. Orpingtons are sometimes broody, sometimes not, I think it depends on the strain you get ahold of. I have have at least a few BO's most of the years I've raised chickens, and only had ONE of them go broody, and she only did it once. But I see people all the time post about the broody BO's they have, so I can only conclude that I just happened to get a non-broody strain. Having some broodies in with your meat producing DP's is a very do-able thing, you really shouldn't have much trouble with it. One of the nice things about having a bunch of broodies, is that if you start some eggs in the "bator at the same time you give a few eggs to your broodies, you can usually slip the 'bator chicks in with the hen-hatched ones, and let the hens raise them, and not mess with brooder pens and so on so much. Hens don't need to be plugged in, you don't have to worry about them getting too hot under the lights, etc. They can be let out to free-range a lot sooner, because Mom will protect them. I usually let mine out to range as soon as the chicks can get back up the step to go inside at night, so about a week old. If a hen hatches some out on her own, they're out with Mom from day one, and I have to put a ramp on the coop so they can get inside with her at night.
I have some Brahma/Cornish crosses, they're big birds, they hens tend to brood, and the eggs are good sized, too. They were DC hen/Brahma roo, I want to try the other way around, DC roo, Brahma hen. I think they'll turn out a little better. I can't tell you what the roos weighed when they were 16 weeks, I didn't butcher until 20-25 weeks, sometimes more, if was busy or not feeling well. The dressed weights were usually over 6 lbs., sometimes over 7 lbs. Meaty, big breasts, though not like a Cornish X, they weren't at all scrawny, like many of my DP roos have been. (I'm happy to eat the scrawny ones, too, but I did like getting some nice meaty ones)
Good luck, it's a very do-able project, and there are a lot of good choices and combinations. Play around with them until you find what works the best for you. You'll have a good time experimenting, too. It's always interesting to try different breeds and/or crosses.
