I know what you mean about the hardware synths. Although I personally had it with mouse clicking. For the past two years soft synths have completely "taken over" my studio. So it's click-click-click ...instead of front panel editing or good old knob tweaking.
I hope they'll eventually come up with dedicated hardware synths capable of hosting VST/AU ...whatever plug-ins and soft instruments.
'Cause for now...
click click to check e-mail, click-click to "tweak" your favorite soft synth...
Sucks after a while.
But what can you do...

-ED-