Timboreale, I couldn't give too specific an answer to your question. On this issue, I'm going entirely by ear, and I can make only brand comparisons. So....
I don't necessarily go for the Moog sound. It's gorgeous in many ways, but I'm not looking for heavy bass sounds or screaming leads, nor do I care for the Moog sawtooth in the middle register. I'm interested primarily in warm sweet melodic qualities. I like best of all the ARP character. Vermona, too, sounds nice, as does Analog Solutions (rather Moogy, I know), but I would like stable oscillators so that the beating is the same from one end of the keyboard to the other. The Leipzig V3 has my interest for the present. So, there's no shortage of sounds that I like. The reason I'm considering something other than one of Dave's instruments is not because I'm unhappy with them (or with DCOs). No, I'm entirely happy with the DSI/Sequential sound. It's just right for my needs. But I'd also like to try another sound and build up a large instrument with modules, something sonically unique. Plus, I like the idea of having a synthesizer that is dedicated to monophonic uses and outfitted with the appropriate effects.
I do think the proper place to start is with a Prophet '08 or Rev2, or else, with the above Extra Deluxe MFG The Sixty-One keyboard, and then add a couple or more modules. I know you think the latter is a bit expensive, but a Korg ARP Odyssey FS, with its very cheap three-octave keyboard, goes for about $1,500. The MFG with a Korg ARP Odyssey Module would be approximately the same cost, and it would offer a fine five-octave keyboard. So, presently those are my two preferred directions.