Is the 300mm f/2.8 AF-I a good idea?

I'm looking for a 300/2.8 type lens to shoot sports. I might also use it casually to take pictures of wildlife. The AF-I version is significantly cheaper than the newer AF-S versions, and seems to promise really good optical quality (and build quality) along with decent focusing speed. Since the lens will mainly be used in noisy sports stadiums, focusing noise won't be a concern. If I get the lens, I'll be using it on my D600.

I would be very grateful if someone who owns and/or knows a lot about the 300mm f/2.8 AF-I could address some questions I have about the lens:

• How fast and accurate is the AF-I motor compared to the AF-S motor in the 80-200/2.8 AF-S or 300/2.8 AF-S VR? Would you consider the AF-I lens usable for sports shooting? From this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJo82o3NguA), the AF-I drive seems pretty fast.
• I've heard that Nikon no longer has repair parts for the AF-I version, making repairs difficult or impossible. How reliable is the AF-I lens, and what are the most common problems? If I buy one, can I expect to use it for the next 10 years or so without any issues?
• Is the AF-I lens weather sealed?
• The AF-S version (non-VR) is about $1000 more. Do you think the AF-S lens is worth the extra cost?