SMF is just another tool in my musical arsenal......you can customize them for backup or to play along if needed....
SMF are also very useful when you need CUSTOM 16 tracks for an arrangement that an arranger style just cant do....or if Im doing a big vocal song Im not playing with as backing tracks or if your gonna play along memorize the music and Improvise making it your own .....most of my SMF get rendered into MP3's....you have to juggle your tools every night depending on the gig...otherwise you can get a bit boring to the audience........technology is available to us .....embrace it any way you can.