Give the guy a break, here... He DID point out that he previously had a PA80, so this is NOT an arranger newbie coming over from the workstation Dark Side!

Complexity of styles is a very different issue for different players. Some rely on the arranger for complex parts and play the simplest of melodies (or nothing at all) with their RHs. Some play far more complex comping with both L and RHs, and sing a lot less. Some use LH bass and comp and solo with the RH, and so on and so forth.

So it's easy to see that the COMPLEXITY of the styles (not the number of the ARR parts, but their 'busyness') can give differing opinions, based on how you play. If a part is too busy to work with what you are doing, it isn't necessarily solved by just turning it off... You might still WANT a guitar part, for instance, but playing a simpler, less obtrusive line.

This is where the overall style 'philosophy' between different manufacturers becomes apparent. Some (IMO, Roland, for instance) provide less frenetic parts, that can be played with without swamping you, others often make you make the choice between either a part that is so busy you don't have much room for what YOU want to play, or no part at all.

Me, I'm in favor of the former, but I can see how other approaches favor other types of players...

Now, THAT would be a good idea for a new arranger 'feature'.... 'linked' styles, almost the same, but just with more or less busy parts within them. Rather than turn the brass off completely, just switch to the 'simple' version of the style, where they keep playing, but less 'franticly' (you know what I mean!!)

What do you think?