I have one of the motionPro levers , costs a bloody fortune for what it is but got it because it does 2 jobs and i only have to carry 2 of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RFX-TYRE-L...item4d01fbbf28
Maybe i'm a bit of a rough arse but changed plenty of tyres/tubes in the dirt, even did one in a sand storm with just levers and knees and to be honest you really only need 2 levers , it all in the way you do it !!!
I don't fine the XT wheels any harder than others but find a marked differance in tyres
A "Bead Breaker" can be usefull but not nessesary , if you're on your own "Brut forse and ignorance " and if you have a buddy , use his side stand .
By the way , carry an ugly stick now !!!
Phil