I *FINALLY* made the decision to purchase a JP8080. I started calling
around, and nobody has them. One mail order company told me that they
had one left, and it would be a special-order item after that.

What gives?

They have at least one in stock at zzounds (http://www.zzounds.com). I've not heard anything about it being discontinued, although I notice that it does seem to be on special at a lot of places (now if only someone would put the VK7 on sale for $1000...)

-dh