I have used MDF on many cabinets, including my shop cabinets, and they are great so long as you understand their limitations. I make the cabinet bottoms out of 3/4 ply, and add melamine only to the top. After gluing the melamine to the top I edge the top with solid hardwood. I also pre-finish (paint) the MDF sides and back before assembly. I make drawers out of 1/2 birch ply and add a false drawer front made from the same hardwood I used to edge the top. I also add a front face frame of the same hardwood. Finally, I glue hardwood drawer guides to the inside and install full-extension slides. Here's a photo of my drill press cabinet. I used left-over jatoba for the hardwood.