My theory as to why Bella goes for Edward over Jacob is pretty much this: Would you rather date a paranormal creature or BE a paranormal creature? If she goes with Edward, she gets to be a vampire. Goes with Jacob, she's just a girl dating a werewolf. Note that from the very start her relationship with Edward is pretty much:

Bella: Change me into a vampire!
Edward: No. Being a vampire is horrible and angsty and glitter-coated.
Alice: No, that's mostly just you. Being a vampire is pretty cool.

my ultimate point being that I think she'd have been better off with Alice. Get to be a vampire, get to be with someone who isn't a jerkface stalker.