djessence,
As far as using compression or not while tracking, everyone has their opinion. While tracking to digital, I notice a lot of engineers tend to prefer to using some type of compression or limiting to a certain extent. If that's any type of "agreement" there, I myself agree.
Now, if you're going to be limited to 1 or 2 compressors while tracking, I'd recommend something of the "neutral" and "transparent" type; especially if you're tracking into a DAW and have a few decent compressor/limiter plug-ins.
So...
First you have to give yourself a price range; which you did: $1000.
OK, now, you have to decide if that $1000 is going to get you both a preamp and compressor or just a preamp. I know that's a hard decision to make if you've never worked with a compressor while tracking... But since you asked for help with that opinion, I gave you mine above...
Then you have to decide if that $1000 is going to get you 1 channel of a preamp and compressor or simply a preamp, or if it's going to get you 2 channels of preamps and compressors or simply preamps. OR, if it's going to get you 4 preamps and 1 or 2 channels of compression or 8 preamps and 1 or channels of compression.
Another words, I'm trying to get you to think of how many channels you want/need. And what's more important to you? More channels of "OK/decent", "minimalist quality" or 1 or 2 channels of quite a significant quality jump from that "OK/decent", "minimalist quality"?
I myself would consider your 001 pres the "OK/decent", "minimalist quality" range.
There is no right or wrong answer, it's just you have to answer those types of question for yourself; thinking of your particular applications, situations, and budget.
Then, once you've decided, let us know here and we'll throw-out a few different options based on your decisions that only you can answer.
I look forward to listing a few options...