So would a 5000 work as well as a 2500? I dont know many of the differences between the 2/3/5.
There is a world of difference between an XTS5000/2500 and the older XTS3000/3500/Astro Saber.
First, the Astro 25 series are newer, still supported (for now) products. They have current firmware which is important for performance on trunked systems and audio quality, especially in the digital mode. CPS is supported in current versions of Windows, and is still available from Motorola Solutions.
The XTS3000 is an abandoned, orphaned product. No future firmware or CPS will come from Motorola. Ever. It's a 20 year old design that shows it's age. Is it a bad product? Not hardly. But age related problems including "EEPROM wear" do and will occur. Getting qualified persons who are willing to service such legacy products are fewer and fewer as time passes. The last published CPS was a 2008 release. MSI does not sell it anymore.
Now the differences between the 2500 and 5000 are in terms of tiering. The radio share the same HOST and DSP (firmware) and are from the same family, but do have some differences. The 2500 is a lower tier, more "affordable" product: and has some cost cutting measures, initially the radio came in two flavors: one with a 4MEG memory (known as AN versions) and the later (and still supported) 8MEG (BN) revisions. The XTS5000s were always 8 MEG and I've never seen anything but an AN version. Initially, the 2500 only supported ADP encryption (software) but later Motorola created a UCM that was on the back of the keypad board. Not a very good design as the user is constantly flexing the circuit board which contains the UCM chips.
The 2500 and 5000 should have similar RF performance, if tuned and aligned properly.