I agree with Adimatis. The REAL truth is, NO ONE WANTS auto-accompaniment features EXCEPT ARRANGER PLAYERS (mostly 'home players') and a few well-heeled gadget freaks who view them more as a 'technology toy' than a serious musical instrument. While this assumption may not be true, we all know that 'perception is reality'. Manufacturers know and understand this and consequently aim their marketing directly at the 'home' market. It is only a very vocal handful of OMB's and singer/songwriters that can't seem to accept this and continue to clamor for more and more features that directly contradict the needs and wants of the average 'home player' who mainly just wants to hit the 'on' button and play; not staying up 'til the wee hours programming that 'special' killer synth patch. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) is their motto.

As Adimatis pointed out; combining all the best features of these instruments into some kind of SUPER 'SYNTHARRANGERWORKSTAION' might work for a handful of people but not enough to keep the lights on at Roland, Korg, Yamaha, and Ketron. In that scenario, Dan at VARRANGER, would be the big winner when the big 3 1/2 went out of business . JMO.

chas