The tv viewer would be hard pressed to see the difference between this $5000 Tricaster 40, and the step up to the $10,000+ Tricaster line. In both cases in you want a control surface the price goes up $1,995.
Do you need the control surface? Just like the original video toaster you can also switch the Tricaster with just a keyboard and mouse. I have done this and I did not have a big problem with it at all. But it is nice for fades to have surface.
http://www.newtek.com/products/tricaster-40/tricaster-40-features.html
WTJR Engineering 