So just a few thoughts...
I'd strongly advise against a Hog 1000. Those boards are ancient and the market's
current offerings can run rings around one. Don't let the attractive prices fool you - you get what you pay for. I personally don't buy used consoles. I'll buy plenty of other things used, but not that. They're just too critical and (usually) too expensive to deal with if things start going south. For what it's worth
ETC's Smartfade Series is also discontinued, but only recently. Honestly, there aren't too many hardware consoles worth owning that are under $1000. I think you'd be much better served with a software or software +
wing option, but if you must have hardware (which is understandable), I wouldn't consider anything less than maybe something from the
ETC ColorSource Series or maybe an offering by Jands or Pathway. They're very approachable and tend to do well in a volunteer environment. Otherwise, you don't start getting into "real" consoles until you grow your budget to the 4-7000 range, give or take, and that's still considered cheap.
Going the software route, Freestyler is okay. I never really cared for it but there's a loyal fanbase out there.
Chamsys's
MagicQ PC and
Martin's M-PC are two of the more popular software platforms on the market right now. I was a
MagicQ PC user for nearly a decade before buying an
ETC desk. Both software programs can be up and running for about $100 so long as you have an existing computer to use with your
DMX interface. Additionally, you can buy hardware "wings" that give you hands-on control of select features. For less than half your budget you can get an M-Touch to go with M-PC. It's probably the best you're going to do for under $1000 and still give you plenty of room to grow. Both software products let you download a free demo, so give both a try and see if it's something you like. Good luck!