To be up front- is there any kind of external modulation wheel out there that can be purchased or acquired easily, and works pretty much as well as any other? Thanks!!

I don't know of any mod wheels you can buy without a keyboard attached, although I could be wrong.

You can always add. Mod wheel CC data to the track after you've recorded it.

Any idea how that'd be done? Would I have to actually record the pitch bend wheel with as it and listen AFTER the recording or how is that?

No, you can use your mouse to enter mod wheel CC data in the PRV.  

Wait, really? Man, there is SO MUCH stuff I still need to learn! WHat was that one thing that one guy said- pretty much buy a setup smaller than you need initially and master every aspect of before upgrading. Intersting.

Thanks Beagle, I'll have to look into it for sure.

I researched this awhile ago after coming to the realization that lack of a mod wheel on my little AKAI LPK49 mini keyboard was going to be unacceptable. Unfortunately, I could not find any standalone modwheel product for sale. The closest thing I found was the Korg nanoPad, which has a touchpad that I assume could be used to enter modwheel CCs.

How about building one using this kit:
http://www.doepfer.de/we.htm 

Wilko

This is a pretty good option;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-Audio-OXYGEN-88-88-KEY-GRADED-HAMMER-ACTION-USB-MIDI-CONTROLLER-/130907312376?pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1e7aaf10f8

But it has a keyboard attached (no extra charge) 
<---it's right there in the middle.

This controller has a pantload of options to control CC codes. I use it extensively with this;

http://www.samplemodeling.com/en/products_saxophones.php

It has dozens of options from how hard you're biting the reed, to breath sounds, overblow, portamento, vibrato, vibrato depth, etc... So it requires a controller like this where you have control over lots of things.