They only stink if you let them! I have 5 wuzzles in a sizeable cage in my living room (off from the main area), and you'd never know they were there. The animals themselves don't stink. If you let their cage get crapped up, THAT reaks.
Ferrets are much maligned in the annals of pets. Kalifornia banned them due to an "incident" where someone's child was supposedly killed in their crib whilst it slept by a ferret. I've owned many ferrets in my day, and that is just ludicrous! They shouldn't be allowed around little kids anyway, as I'd be more worried about the child hurting the ferret. The most tearing up my ferts do involve the insoles of shoes and the undersides of sofas. Otherwise, they're the most fun pets I've had.
I'm a dog person by nature, and my golden gets along great with the little ones, but for the money (usually $60 at the local SPCA), you can't beat the laughs these critters give you as they run around.
The worst they got up to was some toe nipping. I understand NYC banned them due to a rabies scare (unrelated to the actual ferrets?).