In my case I am totally self taught to read and play from music. Being now retired I spend hours every day on the Roland EM2000 & 9000Pro.
If it had not been for the Bells & Whistles then I would never have started playing in the first place at all. I would not have put up with all though scales and things.
Although saying that, my music has become an obsession to the point that I am now reading more music theory and scales and things.
In my case its a positive case of the board making me sound a better player than I am......but its all a great thrill to sit and play the music you enjoy and also sounding reasonable to boot.

Graham UK