In other words, you are trying to choose between a wireless router, as opposed to a router + separate WAP? The question isn't, is a wireless connection as good as a wired connection, is it?
I like separate WAP, because of greater flexibility in placement, plus WAPs tend to have a few added bells and whistles built in that might someday come in handy. But, I haven't heard anything bad about wireless routers. Personally, I like Netgear equipment, but Linksys has its fans too. (It does seem to me that I hear more bad things about Linksys than I do Netgear, but that may not mean much.)