I play live with a korg T1 & would like to park it at home as a stationary workstation. i am looking for a smaller substitute that will still run the T1 sounds & sequences. The obvious choice is a T2, but im wondering if an M1 will load/run sounds & sequences from a T1. Anyone know?

I'm afraid not; the T-series came after the M-series, and they have more ROM and then more multisamples (Prog A from my T3 is equal to the Prog bank of the M1, but a T3 has a second Prog B bank). That means that a T3 is compatible with M1 sounds and sequences, but not the opposite. By the way, the differences between T1, T2 and T3 are the number of keyboard notes and the quality of the multisamples. The T1 should have a better piano than the T3, and the T3 does not have sample RAM installed at the factory; you have to buy it later.

I suggest you try a T3 if a 61-note keyboard is enough for you.