Is there a preference on the logic kit or the keypad kit for anybody
here. Like, if I wanted to integrate the 40h with Live 6 or another
program, what would be better? Sorry, I'm kind of new at the whole
assembling my own controller project.

you need them both,

unless you plan to handle one or the other by making your own somehow

I get the feeling that isn't the case ;)

they're two parts of a kit that work together to make a 40h device.

the logic board is the 'brains', the button board is the interface.  the 
option is there so people can make their own brain OR their own 
interface from scratch.

the 40h sends midi notes, you'd use it to control Live just like you'd 
use an external keyboard to control Live.

Of the two, the logic kit is more integral. It's the brains. It will 
read input from 64 buttons and send output to 64 LEDs. It will need some 
sort of buttons to control anything, and some sort of LEDs to receive 
feedback. But, the buttons and LEDs don't necessarily need to form a 1:1 
correspondence and don't necessarily need to be laid out in the 40h's 
8x8 grid. (Straying from the grid will lead to a device that is less 
compatible with the existing pool of monome software.)

To approximate something that replicates the look and feel of the 
original 40h you would need both the logic and keypad kits. You'll still 
need to source/build additional pieces too: LEDs and a case, at the very 
least. And it will take quite a bit of work to put the whole thing 
together. It's really a BUILDING project, not simply an assembly.

If you're looking for a pre-built device, keep an eye out on eBay for a 
used 40h, or stick around for a few weeks until the new 64/128/256 
series go on sale.

Thank you for the clarification. It helps immensely. I've built things 
from circuit board and the like before, soldering and such, for lighting 
and electrical projects. It looked really similar schematically, I 
thought since I am in school for sound design, I'd take a crack at 
building my own interface.

i cant really build electronics to save my life, and honestly im not 
really interested in doing anyways.  i prefer to have the experts do 
that instead, im a software-geek and as such i love the monome because i 
can use it as a platform for writing my own software (something that i 
cant really say about most midi hardware).

that said and out of the way, i think if you are good at building 
electronics, as it seems you are, i would imagine the kit to be a great 
buy.  if you want a 16x16, id definately wait for the 256 to come out. 
but, for an 8x8, the 40h/kit buttons and design is a real pleasure to 
use.  also, considering the high-quality of the buttons and monome 
logic/firmware/software interface (meaning, the simple and elegant 
serial protocol, as well as Monome Serial's OSC interface), i believe 
the kit to be somewhat of a bargain (considering the fact that it all 
comes from a tiny, 2-person boutique company), provided you can work out 
a decent and affordable solution for the casing (which seems to be the 
hardest part, there are a few posts about this in the hardware section).