Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

hi everyone,

i've just about decided on an XL-7...  i dig the intuitive user 
interface and great sounds.  i do have a few questions i'm hoping to 
get answered before i take the plunge, though:

1) are there any idiosyncracies experienced in controlling external 
synths from the xl-7?

2) can i use my cs1x to play my nova *thru* the xl-7?  (even while 
playing back a sequence?)  i think this function is called midi 
echo... the desired routing is: cs1x --> xl-7 --> nova

3) can the xl-7 record filter sweeps as part of a pattern?

4) is the xl-7 stable enough for reliable live performance?  ideally, 
i'd have a chain of songs (or patterns) i'd like to play back-to-
back, and be able to tweak paramenters as i go.

thanks in advance!
chuck