let me get this right...

akai replaced resampling with the bitgrunger fx?
is this correct?

so theres no way to change a sample from stereo to mono

...and why would they make it automatically change a a stereo sample to mono in the chopshop feature?

this is a pain in my ass

Yes, they should eventually add a Resample or at least a Stereo-->Mono function.

And in Chop Shop it only takes one of the stereo channels...according to the manual the left one. It doesn't mix it down to mono. You have to keep that in mind when sampling old recordings where some instruments are sometimes balanced very far to one channel. Better mix it down before sampling, I have a small passive mixer before the Record Ins to do that.