Apache2k, I'm interested to see how you get on with your current set of upgrades, if you could keep this thread posted.
I imagine an old 'big box' Amiga like an A2k or A3k would be quite cheap unexpanded, that the upgrade path doesn't look quite so high-investment as it appears to be with my A1200.
Only problem I can think of is IDE, A2k/3k is SCSI isn't it? How could I stick an IDE disk in it, how much for the expansion parts needed (I have disks spare)?
A run-down of cost to get an unexpanded A2k/A3k to run say WB3.1, IDE disks, and a reasonable graphics card for 2D decent resolutions and colours, would be interesting to read.