The pitchbend wheel on the 3k and below work well for regular (simple) bends. However, there are other techniques that other players (and those of us who are guitar players as well for example) have learned to use the pitchbend wheels (alone) to achieve a more realistic guitar effect.

This can ONLY be done on a keyboard with GOOD wheels. Every board I've worked onthat had good quality wheels was capable of doing this. My Casio WK does it no problem, my old MZ-2000 did it with no problem, my old Yamaha EX-7 did a great job at this along with a few others. However, because of the low quality of the PSR's wheels, it can't be done. Believe me I tried on many occasions to do this. It just can't be done. The spring mechanism within the wheel prevents this.

I've seen many keyboard players play the wheels the same way I do for guitar and sax voices. It's not an uncommon technique at all. Good wheels and joysticks can handle it, but the PSR's wheels can't keep up.

I've read the reviews and so forth, sure the 3000 got good reviews for the features and sound quality, but regardless of how well the review is written, the (fact) remains that the PSR's wheels are of very low quality, and cannot perform as those found on many other boards (including inexpensive Casio's).

Plus your statement was:
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People who use the pitch/mod wheels incorrectly are bound to experience problems.
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How else is one to read that? You basically said the wheels break because of peoples incorrect use.

That's not the case at all. It doesn't take a seasoned pro with 30 or more years to see that Yammie really went cheap in this area. Take a look at the pitch and mod wheel on the Tyros. They're good quality because they come from their synth line. It wouldn't kill Yamaha or break their budgets to put those wheels on the PSR-3000.

Squeak