My Lady is my first Maltese and I am absolutely in love with the breed!
As MyFairLacy said, Yorkies were bred to hunt vermin, but Maltese were only bred to be lap dogs and companions to the wealthy.... and they know it! They didn't have to work back then and they certainly don't intend to start now.
Lady is very quiet. She only barks to talk to me, err, boss me around. She tells me when it's time for supper, time to get up, etc. She never barks at noises or strangers.
I think the fact that Maltese are a little harder to find is a plus as you say. Backyard breeders have done a number on Yorkies, sadly. I see so many Yorkies that don't even look like like Yorkies now. The health problems, especially liver shunts, are the result of careless breeding. Yorkies are now thirty-six times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined.
Whether you choose a Maltese or Yorkie, though, it is important to find a reputable breeder who is health testing, breeding to the standard and follows the breed club's code of conduct and ethics.
Whether you end up with a Maltese or Yorkie will probably depend on your family, lifestyle and what you want in a dog. If you want to learn more about Maltese, please join us on
http://spoiledmaltese.com/forum/inde...ese.com/forum/
You will find a lot of YT members belong over there, too. It's a great source of information about the breed and a great place to find a reputable breeder.