Yes, the old Alesis blows away the drums in the G-70 and many other older arrangers as well...but, you wouldn't use one live...the G-70 (and S910) are much easier to use...you yourself said the arranger was far better for live work...and, it's not much of compromise, considering all the other features the arranger brings to the table like bass-lines, fills when we want them, and the ability to play SMF (if you need them)

The sounds in the S910, and to a lesser extant, G-70, are far better than the DX-7's, D-50/70, and M1's from the 80's and 90's....gee, the effects processors alone, are light years ahead.

I've got patches on my Tyros3 that easily rival any Motif.

Arrangers have far better or, at the very least, equally good, sound-sets than many synthesizers, and some, like the Korg PA, have editing every bit as extensive, or more.

Home organs were actually played by the user, using bass pedals, and a simplified drum machine...new rhythms and features weren't that important...you tended to keep the instrument for some time...like a piano.

Arrangers do all the work, and therefore people tend to trade up to get the latest and greatest unit to do the all the work even better than the last one.

A lot of my arranger buyers never played organ...they did play, however; most times it was piano that ceased once they were married and had small kids, and they no longer had the time...some used to play in their local bands, but again their careers and/marriages changed their priorities.

That's why a lot of arranger buyers are older...they have the money and the time...families are grown up, and they can now partake of a hobby they had little time or money for before.

That's been my experience, and I've been doing this stuff(including teaching) for close to 30 years now.

Ian