Pat,
The touch screen works as well as all the other manufacturer's screens. I happen to hate the concept. Too little space for too much access to information. I recommend that you set up as many registrations as you need for all the different styles of play that you need. There are 192 locations, so I doubt that you'll run out...and if you do, there is a zip drive to store more !

The sound set in the VA is simply wonderful, so don't get caught up in the "newer is better" thinking. The internal engine in the VA is much improved over Rolands of the past and can hold it's own with all the newest gear as well. I'd take a VA engine in a 9kPro housing any day of the week. The styles are very, very good and the drums are batter than any Roland predecessor. They rival the Tyros, SD1,& PA80 for crispness. Morphing is WAY cool. Real time change of any drum pattern. Love that feature.

The differences between the 7 and the 76 is only navigational archetecture .... not sound pallet. The 76 has more dedicated buttons. If you set it up the way you need it ... you'll LOVE it for years and years.
Good luck !