I've scratched the A1 off the list being a tape camera. Although about $2000 more than I want to spend I'm considering the Canon XF300 or the two XF cameras.

XF300 is a great device. I'm still quite sure you'll do fine even with one of the two cheaper XF-1xx models. The main advantage of these over the AVCHD-based Panasonics is that they use 4:2:2 chroma sub-sampling, giving you sharper colour resolution than the 4:2:0 used by AVCHD. Also, MPEG-2 compression is much easier on the processor, so you'll be able to edit without transcoding.

I should be able to continuing using Adobe CS Production Studio Premium 2.0 for a while as well. Correct?

This might be true, since I believe it did support MPEG-2.

I'm really leaning toward the Canon XF300 but that requires some borrowing on my part. Do prosumer cameras tend to go on sale after Christmas in the USA?