The CM4228 and similar 8-bay panel antennas should perform fairly well. I would go up a notch, to the
Antennas Direct XG-91 or
Winegard HD9095P.
I agree with your friend, if you can run reliably with no amplifier, don't spend the money. If a higher gain antenna can do the job without an amplifier, you're almost always better of to go with the un-amplified system. If you need an amplifier, I'd suggest the
Antennas Direct CPA-19 for it's low noise and resistance to overload. I'm guessing that you have been considering the CM7777, which would likely work but will overload more easily than the CPA-19.
If you want to see WMFD, real channel 12, a second antenna such as the
Winegard YA-1713 aimed at 017° would do the job well. A
UVSJ would be needed to combine the two antennas before the preamp input.