Well, Fran, I don't agree with your statement at all.

If you played a tune using a style, and I played the same tune using the same style, we would definitely sound different...even on the same keyboard.

A SMF, despite having markers and repeats, is not the same as using a style...if it was, then why have styles on the keyboard?

Why not just have 500 SMF files (or MP3) instead of 500 styles?

No, I can't agree they are very much alike at all...they do have similarities, but not enough to say they "sound the same".

I would not play if I had to use SMF...I prefer controlling the instrument's direction myself, and not use a recording of a song to play over. I never use song specific styles, unless I use them for a completely different song.

Maybe it's a fine line for you, but it isn't for me...not one bit.

If you are successful with your method, then that's wonderful and it isn't any less skillful than my method, but, it's certainly not how I want to play an arranger.

Ian