I had one for a few weeks. My Mackie VLZ 1604 sounded better and cost about the same used. There is nothing in a rack mount I would recommend in that price range. I personally think a mixer would be a better choice as the pres you get from Mackie, Yamaha, Spirit, etc are better than Berry. Not to start a pissing match, but the Berry's just don't have much head room and I don't like smushed transients on my drums. HOWEVER, if he also needs the lightpipe out, Berry is the only option at that price point. I'd still save my money a while longer.
As for the religion for or against Berry, meh, who cares? Their cable tester is the bomb, their other stuff is a mixed bag. To me it isn't the name but the performance (or lack there of).