Another factor that I don't think anyone has touched on here is that for the most part, the younger players - 30's and even 40's - are playing with bands and don't need to have an arranger kb ... however, as age and time might dictate, many of the players in their 40's and older have given up on the band scene and all it entails and have gone solo ... now they find themselves playing to a more 'mature' audience and the music does not feature 'hip-hop' or 'techno' dance styles, but they do like more 'modern' versions of traditional styles ... I think this is evidenced also in recognizing how many of the older 'pop/rock' stars, (Manilow/Bolton/Stewart)in trying to continue or revitalize their careers have gone to recording standards from the "Great American Songbook", or music from the 'doo-wop' era of the 50's and early 60's ...

I have said before, that I think it would be easy for manufacturers to develop a 'menu-driven' kb, with styles and sounds, and even options (internal recording/sequencers/etc.) downloadable (at a fee of course) from the internet, so that we each could have our own 'personally designed' board ... BUT, that would no doubt have a negative affect on their ability to intruduce the "egg maker and drink holder" in their NEW model, and let's face it, manufacturers are all about sales (and rightfully so - they are not the Red Cross !!!) ...
I guess we have to live with the fact that only toilet paper serves the same purpose for all of us ... for everything else, we will have to live with compromise ...
t.