so, messing around last night i came across a bit of a drawback - if i put an effect on pads 1 & 2, then make a pattern with these pads, the effect doesn't record into the pattern?

like, once i turn that effect off, the pattern loses that effect? am i right, or am i missing something?

does this mean i have to resample the pads w/ the effect, then make the pattern with the resampled pads?

yup

Yeah, the chip can't handle playing back sounds in a sequence and applying fx live to multiple sounds.

All too true.
What you need to do is resample with the FX - that's the only way to keep the fx in a sample and free the FX up for something else.

but it is a smookin' hot lovely machine anyway

amen.