Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

A friend of mine is wanting to get into making electronic music again, right
now he is most interested in jungle.  I am pushing for him to get a XL-7
like mine since it has a true high power synth engine that is expandable (I
just got the World Exp ROM and it is great) and a great sequencer that he
can use to drive future synths/samplers.  He wants to get a Boss DR202 and a
Boss SP303 since he has had a DR202 before and feels a comfort zone with it.
I think either one will come out to about $500 so price isn't really an
issue.  I told him that for a sampler he is better off saving up to get
something more powerful (like an EMU refurb unit) and then use the XL-7 to
drive it.  I may be being pigheaded about it, but does anyone have any
opinions on the "XL-7 vs Boss DR202 and SP303" debate.

Thanks for any input
Steve