Hasn't been a problem for me. In fact, you mentioned that you've used LionChief. The Lionchief sets can be powered by the DC wall power pack(just plugs right into the track)or via conventional transformers by attaching wires from the terminal track to the transformer or making your own terminal track with disconnects- but that's besides the point.
What I was going to say is that someone makes an adapter piece that would fit over the MTH Z-1000 wall power brick's Plug so that you can plug it directly into the fastrack terminal section usually found in Lionchief sets. The advantage here is the incredible simplicity of using a decent AC power source with a circuit breaker and the 14 volt AC fixed accessory supply. That said, I don't necessarily trust the z-1000 circuit breaker like I do my z-500 so I don't use this method anymore.
One last note- your general idea about getting command control is spot on. I love it. Loved original TMCC, love DCS(which I now use primarily). I started with conventional, a year and a half later got the original TMCC, and then got MTH DCS 6 months later for which I still use my Lionel 135-watt Powerhouse and command base(cost saving if one has no plans of going into Legacy;.
Good luck!
