dd goes to a childminder once a week, she's more of a friend really, as I met her througha friend of mine, and occasionally we socialise outside our work agreement.
She's v. good and does lots of things with dd, like craft, cookind, gardening, takes her out to the park and shopping etc etc.
When I was looking for childcare when dd was still a baby, though, I saw a childminder and it really put me off and went for nursery instead. Not that she was nasty or anything, but being dd only a baby, she was looking after older children as well, and I worried about safety issues, the children stayed in an open plan lounge with kitchen ready accessible. (she might have had child locks and everything but Is till did not like it) and there were tiny toys spread everywhere. I also thought what if she has to take on of the children to the loo and my dd is left alone with older children unsuitable toys..etc
I didn't voice my concerns with her and I probably should have, but I just did not get a good impression, besides she was just as inlexible regarding times as the nurery so I did not see any advantage.
My current childminder, is much more flexible, does not charge me for missed days if I tell her in advance, and she will only charge me by the half hour if I'm late (and I warn her).
Another thing that might be useful for you, my concern about some childminders I've seen was also that they did not organise anything for the children and just tried to spend the time some how (no offense to any c/m here, this was just my experience), while with the one I have now, dd seems to do different things all the time, just like at nursery, which was her age I think is quite important (maybe less for younger babies)