Scott,
Glad you are enjoying your PSR2000. I bought mine in the beginning of August and have been enjoying it every day.
So far, for how I play, the styles have been acceptable to me. I have only my PS55 to compare it to and that only had drum not styles to back the tunes up. I had tried the 550 and 740 before I bought this (untried and unheard) based on the suggestions of this group! I try to play at least an hour every day on it and learn at least one new thing each time if I can.
I also understand about the color-blind situation. It is difficult to design an interface to accomodate everyone. I built a web-based system for a client and the interface had color coded indicators to let them know the progress. It turned out my main user was color-blind! He joked about it at first but I also included the words right next to the colored buttons that would indicate the same thing! Pretty much like the main screen indicator counters.
I like the OTS link on the styles and have used that very often to change beats/instruments in a song to make it sound more alive. Even the fill-in when switching makes it sound like I'm doing more than I am.
On the negative I would pick the intros/endings since most of them don't really match my songs but once in a while I get lucky with them. I mark all of my music when to switch styles/instruments/breaks, etc. and than helps as well.

Squeak,
I liked your suggestion on the tutorial on diskette. (or more than one) and use the memory for improving/adding other functionality. I also agree with Joe that it is a nice feature to get a "feel" for all of the instruments and how to use them.

Really enjoying my 2000,
- Brian

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a year to the day since I first purchased the PSR2000. Ok, maybe I'm a pound or so heavier now, and you might spot a gray hair or two (if you look hard enough), but as far as the PSR2000, it's still sounding and performing well (for all my gigs) as terrific as ever. It's really weird to re-read my review after a full year, to discover that my impressions about it haven't changed really changed all that much. I STILL think its sounds and styles are terrific, especially now that I got it totally tweaked (for me), and outfitted with all my own custom styles & song registrations, and have the MusicFinder database filled with my core (yet ever changing) song repetoire. The cool thing about keyboards these days is that you can customize them to reflect exactly who you are.

Some people have critisized Yamaha's styles as being too simple, but for me this is one of the reasons I especially like them. Instead of arranger styles which overwhelm & draw attention away from the keyboard performer, Yamaha styles provide 'just enough' window dressing to highlight YOUR LIVE keyboard performance instead of distracting from it. The BIG thing I like most about Yamaha style patterns are its fills. The purpose of fills are to provide a transition mark from one variation to another. A dynamic sounding fill lends interest and drama to a style transition. A rhythmic drum fill (kick, snare, and/or toms) is typically played in pop music to 'introduce' each new section of a song. Some arranger keyboard manufacterers (especially Technics & I've even noticed this with Ketron, though not as much) emphasize more melodic insturmental fills (piano,strings, guitar, horns, etc) and subsequently downplay the drum part fills. I prefer hearing a tasty drum fill allowing me to play whatever instrumental fills in myself live. Too many instrumental fills played by the auto-accompaiment arranger are frequent give aways that can quickly destroy the audience's impression that you're playing with a real live band. On the other hand, drums fills (snare, hihat, cymbals, etc) placed at key positions throughout the song provide impressive realism and energy that really make the song 'come alive'. It's my feeling that Yamaha styles excel in this department. Ok, a year with the PSR2000 has approached. Is it time to purchase another keyboard yet? I'm not sure , but my love affair with the PSR2000 definitely isn't over, at least not until the fat lady sings.

- Scott

That lady sang a loooong time ago to me !
Glad you're still happy, though!

I'm with You Scottee!!!
Still a great board!
Nobby