Need some upgrade suggestions

[BeniRose]

So I'm looking at upgrading my interface and I need some help. I'm debating between a Focusrite Saffire Pro, which will have 8 preamps to hold me over until I can afford to buy dedicated ones, and a MOTU 828mkiii which will force me to go into massive debt to buy other pres. I eventually plan on getting some boutique preamps to plug into it line level, as well as getting a cheaper 8 channel until with digital out for a total of 16 inputs.

However, I need to get some nicer pre-amps than the ones on my firepod. I was looking at getting the Focusrite Octopre and running that analog into my firepod, but then I'd be stuck with the firepod until I could save up some more money to buy a new interface. However, I could sell my firepod and put the money towards getting a Saffire Pro, which would leave me with better pre-amps (maybe not as good as the octopre, but certainly better than the firepod) as well as an interface I won't have to upgrade later.

That last part is sort of my question. Is the Saffire Pro enough of a leap forward that if I end up getting 8 boutique pre-amps and running them line into the unit, I will be satisfied with the conversion? The MOTU makes more sense for that setup, but I kind of need something to hold me over in the mean time, but I would like to not have to upgrade it, unless i'm getting an Apogee (sigh...one day) or something. So what do you think?