Donny... buttons cost money and add considerably to an arranger's cost. The touch screen replaces hundreds of buttons, and pays for itself many times over.

If you look at how small the G/E series' touch screen was, there is MORE than enough room for it on the BK9's front panel. A mere 4.5"X3.5"...

And unfortunately, the iPad apps for Roland do almost nothing other than what you can do from the front panel. There's almost NOTHING they do that is buried in sub-menus. Yes, if they functioned as a full featured touch-screen for the BK's, I'd buy one in a flash. But they don't. They are little more than a gimmick for the iPad-addled kids. Don't be fooled.