Thinking of getting an MPC 1000

I have a few questions before I make the leap.

What is the automation like? Also how many effects can a track have? What is the song mode like? How does it approach making melodies out of a sample?

The only hardware sampler I have experience with is my Korg Electribe ES-1. It allows 1 "motion sequence" for each sample(track). This is done either in realtime or using a step edit feature which can be tedious. The only way to make melodies out of samples is to motion sequence the pitch knob, which is a total pain. There are a handful of effects that can only be used 1 a time and it is either on or off for a track. The delay is global and affects everything. Sure there's always resampling but you run out of space eventually. The song mode is sorta painful too, I can get real creative in pattern mode, but when it comes to song mode you have to think too much about sequencing the patterns, especially since you can't save patterns with tracks muted.

Would an MPC 1000 experience be lightyears more intuitive and inspiring?

yes.

Thanks for the reply. But could you elaborate a little?

yes, an MPC 1000 experience will be lightyears more intuitive and inspiring.

have a look at the mpc100 features list, in the comparison forums and a quick read of the manual. that'll let you see what it can do.
you can use more than one effect, song mode works really well. it's dead easy to make melodies -- just sample someone else's melody, chop and play, use 16 levels, sample one hits and play them, sample your own synth etc.