Well, I have been using the crate when I can't watch him and he is already used to that. But every once in a while I will go to the kitchen and get a drink or something and he will be waiting for me to come back in the living room where he is and he will pee. This happens maybe once every week and a half. So it's not a huge deal. I do have an xpen, but I am at home all day long and don't really want to have it out since it's so big and he'll just cry for me to let him out.
I do use the xpen pen when we have to be out for a few hours and I LOVE it. And he will always potty on his pads when we have him in it. He's so weird.