Sure hoping to start saving so that I can make VWL our home next spring break. Wondering if those of you who have experience renting points have any advice.
Mousesavers has the 2017 rack rates for all the different resorts. Boulder Ridge can be found here:
https://www.mousesavers.com/2017-villas-at-wilderness-lodge-room-rates-season-dates/
You say, you want to be there March 30 to April 7, 2018. If we look at where Easter falls this year, this would be the equivalent to a stay April 14 to April 22, 2017 (arriving on Friday before Easter and leaving the Saturday after Easter, 8 nights. So, using the rack rates for 2017 this is peak season at $ 878 per night (the rates already include tax), so $ 7024 in total. It seems that Easter is more expensive than Christmas (by a little).
The same time frame costs 394
DVC points. So, with David's charging you 17$ per point, it comes to the $ 6698 that you already mentioned.
I agree with you that it seems that renting is not that great of a deal there. I think part of that is that the DVC point structure still gives you a far better deal for off season while WDW hotel pricing has become more flat over the years, i.e. expensive all year around. So, the real deals are to be had for those times that once were off season (like October and December). Looking at the prices on Mousesavers, you can see the lowest rate for a one bedroom os $ 622. The highest is § 878, so not a huge difference. With DVC points however, the difference is much larger. The lowest points per night for a one-bedroom is 28 points at VWL, the highest is 53 points. You can see how renting points in the lower point season will give you more of an advantage.
Also, your stay is 8 nights, but three of those nights are weekend nights that cost more points than the nights Sunday through Thursday.
A few things to take into account when making a decision:
Rack rates tend to go up every year it seems and usually around 5%. So, if you add another 5% to the 2017 rack rate, you come out with about $ 7375.
I am no longer an expert on discounts and availability since I bought into DVC, but I have heard that availability has become more and more limited. Also, Easter is truly the most busiest time of the year at WDW (yes, it does beat Christmas, the weather is nicer), so I am not sure you can count on any discounts appearing and then I am not sure they would be available for one bedrooms at VWL. The DVC rooms are mainly outside the normal WDW booking system. WDW owns 2% of all the DVC points at VWL and can rent out those as normal hotel rooms. Besides that they get points when DVC members exchange their points for other options, so they can use those points to make rooms available to be booked through them. But the majority of DVC availability will be taken up by DVC members.
And finally, since you are looking into renting nearly 400 points, of course the price you pay per point makes a huge difference. You can also look at the Rent/Trade board here on the DIS:
https://www.disboards.com/forums/dvc-rent-trade.29/ Prices there tend to be lower than through one of the brokers (like David's) as you cut out the commission for the broker. So, if you can rent there for $ 15 per point, you will save another $ 800.
Hope this helps and you will be able to have the magical vacation that you deserve!!
You are now added, and I gotta say I'm excited for your first trip. I may tear up for you! 
Its my mind I miss the most these days
