I have got to agree with you there, the 1000 series are more my cup of tea. The large windshield on the 500 is interesting but like you said it is definitely a municipal workhorse type truck. I think the guys on the mogml list said the 500's are in the $130K range.
I wonder what a 1000 series might be worth in 15years?
That would be the earliest could import one here.