I don't know if any of you have been following the pad drama that surrounds the mpc1000.
Recently Akai has released a pad "upgrade" for $199 that switches the mpc1000 pads from individual sensors to interlink sensors, like every other MPC out there.
Akai has started to put these new pads in the mpc1000's shipping, basically robbing the original owners. This is an admission on their part that the original pads were faulty. They don't even offer replacements for the original individual sensors any longer.
Some guys over @ mpc-forums have started a petition to send to Akai. I have no idea if this shit will work, but if you're interested - go sign it.
AKAI MPC-1000 Faulty Pad Design Petition