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

I'm mostly working with software sequencing these days, but was 
offered some live spots and want to see if I can find a way to 
translate what I'm doing on my computer for live gigs. The thing is 
that I don't sequence the whole songs in midi, but build block with 
loops I make by sampling myself playing, breaks, etc.. I do use midi 
but print to audio to sequence. Then I lay some track of me playing 
live all the way through and edit... My messed up NLDed brain tends 
to get easily overwhelmed with midi sequencing... I rather work with 
chunks instead of individual notes.  For the live sets, I was 
thinking of adding a DJ CD players and an effect unit to add to my SP-
505 and ESI2000 but then Checking Musician Friends I saw the XL-7 for 
$500 which is a sweet deal. Is emu gonna stop making it? 'cause the 
MP-7 is still regular price... It occurred to me that I can load all 
the big loops to my ESI2000's 128mb of ram and sequence them with 
midi in Logic kinda like I do with audio....

Here are some questions I have about the XL-7:

1)USB: IS the USb reliable for loading SMF files from a computer? Can 
it load patterns, or just complete songs? If it doesn't load 
patterns, what's the step editing like? Is the memory that it comes 
with for patterns enough or do I need a flash ram card? It's wierd 
that it has no Floppy drive...

2)ROMPLER: What's the sound rom like? IS there a list of the presets 
somewhere?I'm not into electronica, but don't want to pay extra for 
the MP-7 since I'm mostly using samples anyway. Does it come with 
acoustic drums and non Synth patches too? It'll be cool if I could 
use some of the onboard sounds especially with all those knobs to 
tweak! :)

3)Sequencer: Does the sequencer let you mute/unmute any combination 
of the indivudual 32 tracks on the go? Can more than one pattern be 
played at the same time? I'm trying to figure out ways keep the vibe 
form my computer tracks... I never pay too much attention bars/beats 
(and use seconds/minutes and wave display on my audio sequencer as 
reference) and might feel constricted by that on the sequencer.  
Anybody who's has the same "problem", found a way(s) to work around 
this? 



I come from playing live instruments on improvisational settings... 
Any help, advice, suggestion regarding the Command Stations or any 
other possible setup for what I'm trying to do will be greatly 
appreciated... 


Thanks in advance...