Newbie Needs Advice!, software/hardware setup can't decide Options

[mook noodler]

First of all, Hello! I've been looking around in here for about 3 hours now and I'm really impressed. This is one of the best forums I've been to and seems to be the most helpful. Now that my nose is well browned...

here's my situation: (and I don't mean to repeat other topics but there's so many that I'm overwhelmed!!!) I've been recording music for the past 3 years or so on a PC with Cakewalk and Cakewalk Sonar. I like Sonar, but I got so sick of PCs that I went and got myself a PowerMac dual1.25 G4 with OSX. Now I needs a new setup. I record guitar, bass, vocals, and keyboard and drum machine. I have a Midisport 4x4 for midi, but I'm definitely not a midi whiz. I also have several outboard effects (delay, compression, etc) that I like to use.

At first I leaned toward the Digi 001 cuz of all the I/O's, but this forum has me thinking Logic or Cubase, which leaves me pretty confused about a hardware interface. I don't think I need a mixer type thing (already have a mixer), but I'd like something with several I/O's for sending tracks to outboard effects, and I'd really like a breakout box. I just need basic plug-ins but would like to be able to add more later. Softsynths would be cool too.

Hope I didn't go over the top w/ details. Any advice/input would be greatly appreciated, and I thank you all in advance! PS: my price range is about $1200.

[mook noodler]

PlasTree, thanks again. When you said you didn't even have to get out the manual to learn DP, that REALLY makes me want to check it out. I like the MOTU 828 too. So I've got one more question for you: I noticed that the 828 lacks a word clock, which comparable interfaces seem to have. Now, I don't wanna sound like a moron, but what is a word clock and will I ever need it? From what I gather it's for syncing multiple midi devices? I've been recording midi for a couple years and have never used a word clock (at least not that I know of), but I've never used more than one midi device at a time.

Thanks again to you and everyone else. I feel like I'm inching closer to a decision now. Just gotta find a way to test drive everything!