Whatever you end up getting, I'd get a dog that is actually bred to retrieve...Labs and Spaniels breeding is heavily based on their retrieving abilities (if it's a good breeder anyway). A lot of the other dogs being suggested are more for pointing and retrieving is secondary. If you're getting a dog for retrieving, why wouldn't you get one that is bred to retrieve? That Boykin is a cool dog and would probably be a good fit for an Urban hunter. Lab's are popular for a reason too...

An arguement for a pointing breed though could be made based on their nose. Often hot dry weather and birds that do not present a lot of scent such dogs can be a plus on blind retrieves. Put a retrieving pointer in the scent cone and the bird is immediately found. Cripples often pointed. I have seen retrievers not find downed birds in the middle of a dove field before.