last question before I'll stop bothering you :-)

If I want to replace my Yamaha MD-8 multitrack recorder with a decent 16 track recording system, what would you recommend other than a computer? Am I better off with a 16-track digital workstation (including mixer, effects, harddrive) or is it better to use a 16-track high-quality stand-alone digital mixer, some outboard effects units and an external hard disk recorder?