Playing styles is not necessarily about an addiction. Although it’s can be different now, but it used to be that a lot of arranger keyboards didn’t have sophisticated enough piano and electric piano voices, which would sound persuasive without backing. As for other voices, like saxophones, flutes, or even electric guitars, they are usually monophonic, and require backing as well. And if your are a singer, either all your backing is (e)piano based, or you use styles, pre-recorded tracks or a real band.

I guess, just in scenarios like when you have to make a soundtrack for a movie or video, which usually isn’t based on rhythm, or your are a band-type person or a member of a orchestra; or you work in a classical genre —in these cases you won’t find much room for an arranger keyboard.

Originally Posted By DonM
My last set of organ pedals and bench weighed more than my keyboard, stand, stool AND PA system I use now! And that doesn't include the massive organ and Leslie and heavy PA I used back then.
I remember making a road trip to south Louisiana and barely having room for a suitcase after loading all my gear into my full-size 76 Chevy van.
As I recall, that $20,000 organ had maybe a dozen styles.


Wow, that’s impressive! I’d better not be complaining in your presence about lugging my “overpriced” and “overweight” PSR-S950 into my Hyundai Getz, which is the largest car I’ve owned (well, it’s larger than my friend’s Kia Picanto).