Best Dance Pad for DDR MAX 1 & 2 (PS2)?

[Ataris]

Hey guys and gals, I'm sorry if this has been asked before (it probably has), but I couldn't quickly locate another similar thread about this... Anyway, my main question is the same as in the subject. What is the best Dance pad to get for the DDR MAX 1 & 2 game for the PS2? I've checked this buynshop site, and I'm considering buying two of these dancepads, as you can see here:
http://www.buynshop.com/productinfophp3/VG-DDR-DXCB2

However, I don't know if this is the best one out there...
There's also this metal dance pad (as you can see here: http://buynshop.com/productinfo/44/VG-DDR-MPD/
but it's a lot more expensive. Another thing is, in other threads I've seen a lot of people say "Metal dancepads suck, get a hard plastic one or build one yourself yadda yadda". Anyway, all that got me pretty confused, and I don't know what's the best choice.

Apart from that dance pad question, I also wonder about the following:
1) If I get the BNS Ultra DX-Xtreme Dance Pad, do I also still need to get a dance pad cover (like the BNS DDR Dance Pad Cover also listed on that site)? I will have to play on a carpet if that helps/hurts anything.
2) Are there any better deals out there, or is buynshop a decent site to shop at?
3) (Another thing I just noticed) Is there much difference between the dance pads listed here: http://<a href="http://www.buynshop....DDR-ULTDX/</a> and here: http://www.buynshop.com/productinfophp3/VG-DDR-DXCB2 ? Only the first one seems to note the "New Extreme Insert & new bigger pad size". Because it's Ultra Extreme instead of regular extreme? :P Hmmmmm...
4) And finally: I haven't played DDR before at all. But I saw DDR2 MAX came out just recently, and I was already planning to get DDR1. Is it worth it to get both games, or will 'just' DDR2 MAX suffice?


Is there anyone who can help me out with (some of) these questions please? The more details I can get, the better, of course. Thanks in advance!