Absolutely. Sustain is a terrible thing to abuse, and I HAVE struggled through the odd gig when my sustain conked out on me, and survived, but I noticed the difference on piano and Rhodes parts was excruciating, despite my best efforts at legato. That, and the ability to hold something while you do a quick move to the screen or buttons (I don't run EVERYTHING with my feet
), makes the sustain an essential part of my performing.
Just about ANYTHING can be abused, as well as used well... I don't allow myself to worry if someone ELSE overuses it, though. All that matters is that I don't..!
I guess my main thing is that I don't WANT to change my technique if I don't HAVE to. I know there are workarounds for most things, but after spending most of my life learning how to play pretty much like anything you hear on the radio, I don't want to have to change that to accommodate a MACHINE. I feel the machine should accommodate ME!