B2, Starkeeper,

Right now the piano is flourishing. But the trends are not in its favor. There is little room for improving piano technology (it seems). Space and wood are becoming more precious. OTOH,synths are becoming more powerful and affordable.

Also, how valuable is the piano sound? If there were a synth/sampler that could emulate an acoustic piano perfectly, including its feel, but could not produce any other sounds--how would it fare in the marketplace? I think it would lose out to synths with lesser piano sounds but greater sonic breadth.

Anyway, comparing pianos to dinosaurs is not an insult. After all, the dinosaurs were magnificent--in their day