RE: you've got a $1000..what gun would you buy?
For an Inline... I would go with what I have-
Plain Jane Stainless with Composite stock... Nikon Scope... then trick it out with trigger job, .25acp, modified hinge pin, bergara barrel, ... oops... you said under $1000? (Find a real nice used Encore then trick it out and you should have money to spare.)