Post all you want! We can tell that you're actually reading and thinking about our attempts to help you; it's nice to see/read.

I use the loops more than I figured I would. I always create my own "user" loops by taking component loops ("tone loops" might be the Roland way to say it) from the different patch loops and synchronizing them together at the same tempo. After you mess with the filters, effects settings, and LFOs, a component loop (and user patch loop, as a result) can sound way different than it did before it was edited.

If your primary concern in getting your last expansion board is getting some useable drum kits/hits, the HH board is, I'd say, as good as the Dance board. Overall, though, I like the Dance board better for dancey, synth-pop, techno-type music, but wouldn't pay a bunch of money for one!

You mentioned getting a hard disk recorder (like the VS-1880). It'd be a great investment; an XP-80 sync'ed to a VS recorder (even an 840, 880, or [soon!] 890) or an inexpensive audio card for your PC (Emagic Audiowerk2 or something) would really give you a lot more options for recording. You could record thick, layered sounds and use different XP effects on different tracks, almost like having several XPs at once. I'd definitely invest in an HDR before any of the other things you mentioned if you really want to record full-length songs now. I'd bet just the XP80 - with the knowledge of it you've likely accumulated over three years of owning it - and a used VS880EX (or PC card, Korg D8, etc.) would allow you to record some great-sounding tunes! Sorry about going on about this, but it kind of relates to a decision I made a few months ago...