Peavey amps and cabs tend to have big handles in bad positions, which, combined with their bulk and weight, makes carrying them rather awkward. At least the old ones did... Maybe the owners tried to put handles in more sensible places?
Scratchy pots and sliders is usually nothing a good squirt of contact cleaner won't fix, Baskesman. I need to take mine for a service soon as well, and from the looks of it, it's the first one it ever had...