I picked one of these desktops up... for $800 I couldn't resist. I guess we'll have to see how it ages, for now the build quality seems fine.
One of the first things I did was update the OS to 1.5.4 (it shipped with 1.5.2). The updater utility is much slicker than loading sysex files via MIDIOX, it's a dedicated client you install, then you browse for the .dat file and load it in).
It sounds fantastic... much like the Prophet 12, that digital sound really finds its place in the mix. The sound design possibilities are really vast. I'm still getting accustomed to where everything is -- it's very intuitive as the reviews say, but due to the sheer number of options, it takes some getting used to where everything is. The filters are surprisingly good, and there's many to choose from. It's nice to have so much control, for example being able to shape the curve on envelopes.
I'll go out on a limb and say that for those looking for flexibilty in sound design, interested in lots of depth, and possibilities for complex sound experimentation ....and, not wanting to spend a fortune this synth warrants a serious look.