A GREAT performer in and on anything he or she so desires... (and I'll just be happy to be in the same room!).

The REST of us... the details matter a little bit more (to cover OUR shortcomings!

I think that the further down the skill ladder you go, the MORE important the best sounding gear becomes. A GREAT sound, played simply, will always sound better than a poor sound played as simply. And if simple is as good as your technique and imagination will take you, might as well make it SOUND pretty!

And, of course, the more you use your arranger's auto accompaniment as the main part of your act, the more important it is that it sound good, too. Cover up a cheap Casio with stellar chops and keep the ACC to a minimum, it's going to sound like a million bucks. But play simple single line melodies over the entire accompaniment style, and that Casio is going to sound, well, like a Casio!

Chops rule... Chops in stereo, even better (IMO), but chops, chops, chops....!

(This is me agreeing with you, Mo! )