For many of us (players, mostly) it is better to leave sampling to the real pros. I have never heard a user sample that compared to the comercial products.
I buy kbs as a substitute for the real thing. There are no venues that will support a 17 pc band in my neighborhood, so I have been forced to downsize to keep working. Since going solo (late 1980's), I rely on high quality samples to reproduce (as close as possible) the sounds of the instruments that I cannot afford to hire...or don't have room (or patience) for.
I'm sure most of the readers here know what samplers are, but the most common useage of digital kbs (at least in the US) has got to be peformance oriented. Tweaking and fiddling with knobs and filters is not the norm for many working players, so that's why we seem to clamour for the instuments with the best "on board" sounds.
"Meat & Potatoes" are what puts bread on the table for me...and in my pocket too, so please don't be so condecending toward those of us that derive little pleasure from adjusting sounds that we already like. For the average pro player in Philly - the sound of the instrument is secondary to the selection of tunes, the vocal prowess, and the overall entertainment value. Players get paid each performance. Programmers get paid once - at the factory...or in a studio.
( I do that too )
Programmers are few and far between in my world. When we need to modify a sound - we fix it, and save it .... and USE it. End of tweaking.
I'm sure you have a vast background of Synth-knowledge 3351, but give us a break with the put downs. We all play for different reasons and the use of a product is to serve the needs of the user. It's very individual, don't you think?
Didn't mean to sound harsh, but you struck a nerve with your last comment.
Your point about buying samples os very valid, but the way you presented it sounds like a critique.