+1 on the hard case. They're heavy and awkward, but the boards are expensive. I put four casters on the bottom. Works great for gigs that don't require stairs.
Minivan or SUV - whatever. I've just resigned myself to removing seats every time. Tossing it in the backseat of a car is a pain, and seems to result in damage to the car as well. Just want a flat, unobstructed space to slide it all into...