Need advice: Xencelabs 24 vs Wacom Cintiq 24 (base or multi-touch) for a 2D animation student?

Hey everyone, I'm currently a junior 2D animation major. My workload is really starting to ramp up, and I think it’s time to finally bite the bullet and buy an actual professional display tablet for my apartment so I can work from home.

I'm looking at these three 24-inch options right now:

* Xencelabs 24 (Standard) - $1,499 * Wacom Cintiq 24 (Non-pro) - $1,299 * Wacom Cintiq 24 (Multi-touch) - $1,499

I know Wacom is basically the industry standard, but we use both at the university I got to. A couple things, I can't decide if the multi-touch feature on the Cintiq is actually a worth it for 2D workflows or something I could just use external control for. Then, I just don't know which one would be better to use. I want something to start working on my junior and senior year films, but also to have for once I graduate to use.

For those of you working in 2D or storyboarding, which of these is actually better for a daily workflow? Is Xencelabs worth the jump in price over the base Wacom, or should I stick to Wacom since it's the standard?

Would seriously appreciate any insights from working pros or fellow students. Thanks!