Never realized how much of pain it is, to get the MPC X's Pad or Pad Sensor. At some point, Akai PRO should just include the Fat Pads in all their MPC's.
I swapped out PADs for a friend and had a chance to test them out. They felt good, but if he wanted to swap them for other color. He's doing it himself. The MPC 4000, PAD swap is so much easier and you can test the pads before closing it up.
i saw the video for the live a year or two ago... and said **** that. i don't see a cosmetic issue with the stock pads.. so it would have to really be a physical solution for that to be close to happening.