Ironically, when the 999 was launched, Ducati implied servicing would be cheaper/easier on the new bikes due to them having far fewer parts (cant remember the stats, but it does have loads less components than the 748/9**).
My mate had a 999 in for service the other day and he reckoned there not as easy to work on at all...I think from memory a pair of airfilters was about £60 too..
Nat