I have mine on a double layer of 3/4" plywood and an HTC3000 base (the 3000 doesn't "jump and thump" when you put it on/off wheels like the 2000 does, I wouldn't use a 2000 with this ) I didn't really countersink much, just enough not to worry about clearance.
I did seriously look at the Grainger store brand (Dayton) 17" (5PHC3) and 20" (5PHC4) and Optimum 16" (B28H aka grainger 5TPP7) floor presses (actually make a comparative matrix of about 30 dp's when I got the 18-900) but there are none local so I couldn't touch it and see how the fit and finish were. The Optimum looked like a premium press, but lots more $$. If you can stop and see them, I'd be interested in hearing what you think anyway, even though I'm no longer in the market
What I really wanted was an Ellis 9400, but couldn't justify it in any way shape or form and the top end speed was a bit low for small bits (its primarily a metal DP and weighs 675lbs!).