Abacus..... pretty good for a conversion (although it is using the count-off sticks instead of a real sidestick), but in all fairness (again) it didn't sound any better than my G70, despite the Abacus being nearly twice the price.

That's the nature of diminishing returns - the better the Big 3's arrangers get, the harder it is to justify paying double or more for something that only sounds 25% better (or whatever % better you think it is).

I'm also getting a little tired of the software arranger people touting 'open' systems as being the ONLY way to get improvements in their hardware. In the 16 months I've had my G70, Roland have come out with TWO major upgrades, adding several previously unthought of improvements (another mode altogether - Guitar Mode - and now the ability to put a parametric EQ on every single Part) along with numerous OS improvements and bugfixes. Not to mention minor upgrades that squashed bugs and changed some OS features at the users' requests.

I know it's not the same as OAS, but it IS a major step forward, at no cost to the user at all...... The sound of the G70 is now considerably better than when I bought it, and it works far better too (some of the OS improvements were added at the request of just one user!). So, although they are not as public about it, Roland's R&D team seem to be responsive, not Domenik's sole domain.....

Anyway, rant off! Thanks for posting, everyone. You can't make up your mind just TALKING about these things.... you have to hear it to believe it.....