I think the bottom line is, if you entertained them with those older arrangers when they were new, you can STILL entertain them now with exactly the same gear. Their expectation of realism hasn't changed.

The truth is, 99% of our 'need' for newer arrangers comes from impressing ourselves, not any particular audience.

Now, I know I play a bit better when I have a great, expressive piano rather than some one dimensional early Sound Canvas type piano sound, but the truth is, it's rarely enough that the audience can tell the difference. I am satisfying myself a lot more than any actual need.

I'm probably going to get a BK-9... but I'm not getting it to 'sound' better. I'm getting it because of the Chord Sequencer. If it wasn't for that, my G70 would still be my #1 choice. And yes, certain things in the BK-9 will sound a hair better. But I guarantee my audience will not care one iota.

Sometimes you have to step back and ask yourself... If you are already working how you want to, will the latest, greatest alter that at all? The truth is, probably not. So figure out WHO is benefiting from spending a bunch of money on something that is probably only an incremental improvement over what you already have, and is doing the job just fine!

It's probably only you...