Everyone that decided to buy a digital piano without a pitch bend device already made the decision that bending things is NOT their cuppa tea. Most modern stage pianos have sounds in them that OUGHT to be bent, occasionally, but there isn't one on the keyboard. Hence, no interest in it... After all, most pianos are played by PIANISTS. Not arranger players, synth players, WS players, etc..

How cleanly the arranger responds to REAL pianism is going to be their primary objective. To this end, Roland have also brought back (FINALLY) the 'chord recognition off' command, assignable to a footswitch, so that a played chord can be 'held', while the pianist (or MIDI guitarist, or whatever) plays whatever the hell they feel like, and the chord won't change (which normal 'pianist mode' usually freaks if you play more than two notes). Stick this under your left foot while your right does sustain, you ought to be able to play VERY naturally with far fewer chord tracking issues...

I'm pretty sure that's going to matter a LOT more to a pianist than no footpedal controlled bend...

BTW, that Novation looks like the perfect layout for the BK-7m. You really ARE going to need to put it close to your LH, for doing Var and fill selection (unless you are like me and do it all with your feet!), and the Roland has a boatload of buttons and controls JUST where you'd need it. The CME 76 looks like an odd duck... not sure I like that low A- high C range, I prefer a low E-high G, simply to put a low E for four string bass parts, but no doubt you could get used to it. It has room for the BK, too, but it's a hair too far to the left for me. But better than the Roland, still...