MPD 16 and Reason?

I'm a big fan of MPC's so far. I am most likely upgrading to a 2000XL, mainly for the zone 16 levels and creation of folders.

I currently sample and edit stuff in Pro Tools then bring it to the MPC for sequencing. I have no need for the sampler in the MPC fropm now on. So here's my questions:

1.If there was a cheaper version/ equivalent of the MPC without a sampler?

2.Will and MPD 16 (the external pads) + another software program
(Reason. Fruity Loops) come close to the MPC expereience? I do need easy 16 levels of tuning and Note Repeat is also important.

I'm most likely getting the XL, so don't spaz on me about hardware vs. soft. I'm just looking for honest, calm, opinions. I think 9th Wonder has done nice stuff in FL, although his hi hats and snare are often stiff (Threats/ Speed), but I think thats gonna become another new style of beatmaking, or at least his trademark.

Thanks.

you can do 16 levels in a softsampler pretty quick. Just grab the wav. and dump it into something like Kontakt.
I think noterepeat is harder, you'll probably have to draw midinotes in by hand to get there. i coud be wrong though.

As for the mpd16 pads, anyone with an mpc and a computer can try that for himself. I like my mpc's sequencer, and i would never sequence on a pc or mac.