Btw, have you tried using Driven Keys? Or is that out of the question?

Ok, now I see what you mean. Maybe I'll just shuddup for now and wait until I get my hands on Maya again. I'll try to get back to this then (that is if you haven't found a solution before that).

Umm...I'm not sure what you're doing but aren't these equivalent:

name.move -r x y z;

vs.

name.translateX += x;
name.translateY += y;
name.translateZ += z;

I can't test this right now 'cause my maya comp. is broken but i think it goes something like this:

name.move -r x y z;