Sound card and speaker Q

I have 1 mini stereo input. What types of advantages are there to having all 8 inputs from the mpc 60 compared to just having stereo input? In the future I ph33r having only 2 inputs, but budget wise the emu 1820 m looks nice. The delta 1010 looks aite, but I heard the motu blows it away. I would be using cubase sx to sequence and master on. I would also use reason to make samples. I got a midi controler so latency is important. Any suggestions for speakers to go w/ the soundcard?

Another alternative was doing what dj james did. getting the emu1212m a mixer and bumping stuff down like that. http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=9822

Any comments on having the soundcard just having its stereo inputs and having a mixer w/ more inputs? Why did djjames go digital rather then 1/4?

A mixer with a lot of sub groups and an multi input soundcard is the way to go, if you get an 8 input soundcard, try to get a mixer with 8 sub groups.

sub groups are they a bus?

yup.