Ok a little history. I've been the professional keyboards since 1997. Before that I had those cheap casios. My first professional board was a Roland E38. Then I had a E66 ,E86, E500. Then in 2004 I bought a VA5. I felt it was quiet advanced compared to my previous boards. I felt it was better than the Yamaha PSR 2000. I play at home only for my own personal entertainment and some friends now and then. Even when I had a VA5 my friends and family said my music was ok. When I bought a Tyros 4 months ago I was blown away by the quality of its sounds and styles. My friends and family were for the first time in my life REALLY REALLY impressed with the music I made with this keyboard. The same songs I had done with my VA5 sounded 10 times better on my Tyros according to everyone I invited home to hear me play. I really believe that quality of my playing also increased when I got the Tyros...perhaps it inspired me to do better. I am still just an amateur home hobby player nonethesless.... But one of my friends recently (after watching me play) asked me to play a few songs to a crowd of 25000 at a Fair in my town 2 months ago. I was scared but agreed and did it. It is amazing to play to a huge crowd but I was scared lol. I feel I would never have gotten the opportunity to play if I still had my VA5 cos this guy (the promoter of the fair) was never really awestruck by my VA5. I sold my Tyros only because I want Tyros2. I wont get tired of the Tyros......ever. For you guys who make a living with these expensive keyboards you dont have to worry if you dont like it you can cover up and sell it.... For me I'm not making money with this, so its money thats not coming back...this is why I have to look at keyboards with a critical eye.