My take is that it is fun and easy to work with. Just the right features you need when you need them. Something you feel rather than tinker with the interface. And then there's the bad side...
Stupid sampling engine nothing like Akai's of old. Near impossible to use waveform editing whose display tells lies. Soft attack on anything especially previewing before loading. Akai OS vs. JJ OS hell where you always think you should be using the other OS. Bugs in both OS's including a beauty in Akai OS which corrupted files and has only recently been fixed after years. The little green display is not the best unless you put some light on the LCD panel.
But sometimes you want to be stupid and spend less time editing parameters and just hit pads. At that, the MPC (2500 in my case) is brilliant. It gives a great dirty sound to drum samples and ignore the hiphop fools, its instant techno 909 kick drums from 1995 through to massive kicks from Electro. And don't forget the midi sequencing for external gear - its as capable and faster than any other hardware sequencer.
I am totally correct on all points and you all must not disagree with me
B