I'm sure it's already been discussed ad nauseum in another thread, but I'm gonna ask anyway: have you considered MC012 > digi-modded UA5 > MD?
Unless I'm mistaken (which happens all the time), the digi-mod UA5 is in about the same price range, maybe a bit higher. IMO, this setup would provide the following benefits over either of the options you listed:
[1] possibility for future upgrade to the pre: either the warm or presence mod
[2] ability to provide patches out of whichever digital output you're not using
[3] easy switch from MD to Nomad JB3: no compression, easy transfers, cheap!
[4] supports 24-bit and 48/96 kHz upgrade plans (odds are you'll get there evenually)\
[5] supports aud/sbd or multi-mic mixes
[6] supports sbd feeds without need for attenuators
Just a thought...