eggplant:
What you have heard is indeed NOT true. I'm betting that you heard this from the person who was trying to sell you the Elite Pro 1000.
You can buy the PDP 503CMX for between $5,300 to $5,700. That would put the comparable price of the Elite Pro 1000 between $6,300 to $6,700. I would be surprised if you could obtain an Elite Pro for that (but stranger things have happened). The shiny black Urishi bezel on the Elite is a $600 item. That's the main difference between the two units.
If you really like the Elite that much, buy it and be happy. I was just trying to give you a very cost effective, and equal alternative.