Yes that is cheap. I made a decision today to keep my board in tact with the outputs, PS, connectors and encoders, and just get rid of their PIC16F84's and drop in my own micro. I am going to use the Propeller by Parallax, which is an 8 x 32 bit 80mhz multiprocessor, one chip for all 12 motor outputs, 6 encoder quadrature inputs, 3 dir and 3 step.
I have already tested out driving the motors from a breadboard, so I'll get it all done and make my own PCB and have complete control in the future. I really appreciate all the help, but I have to bail on this manufacturers controller, it's been like prison. SInce the hardware is in tact, it will get me by for now.