Actually, electronic keyboards seem to be going back to their roots, which explains the recent hardware modular synthesizers like Moog 55 and Roland's System M1. Also, there's a plethora of VST's emulating early analog synths, vintage combo organs and electric pianos which seem to appeal to the younger users who missed out on their hardware counterparts.

I can see "live" analog control being added to more arrangers, like filter cutoff and ADSR generators, if its inclusion on lower priced arrangers (Yamaha's PSRE-series e.g.) is any indication.

I can definitely see Gary's point, especially since the several year old arranger I presently use could fulfill my needs well into the future, hardware failure limitations being the only issue. Styles and sounds are editable so keeping it fresh is just a matter of digging in and doing some programming.

I think of it this way...do I really need something that allegedly surpasses the instrument I have now, or am I just buying to get something different and to satisfy my inner acquisition urge?

What can't I do with my current instrument that I need to do on a new one? Are the new sounds, timbres that I will actually use, or do they just make impressive listening?

Are the extra functions/features on the new instruments really that necessary, or, am I only concerned with making one or two things relatively easier, even though I�m managing to get by quite nicely with a comparatively painless workaround?

So far, nothing new (arranger-wise) has remotely impressed me, and I'm kinda glad, as the money can be used for other pursuits, and the time I'd otherwise spend learning a new (and perhaps even more complicated) operating system might be far better spent either fully utilizing the present one or, improving my playing skills.

Ian