SA voices deserve all the hype they get. The demos all show that played the right way, a level of expression and realism beyond previous technologies is possible.

But, short of a 'mind-to-MIDI' link, you HAVE to make some playing adjustments to use them at their best. The trick is to learn these performance 'tricks' to the point of them being automatic. Just like learning how to use the bender to its' most effective (not exactly a skill your piano teacher probably taught you), or learning instrument voicing techniques (again, not generally learned from a pianist), these skills work best when you don't even have to think about them.

I used to be a devotee of the DX7/BC1 combination. Because it wasn't sample based, the breath controller allowed a huge range of expression and tonguing types, and is still difficult to emulate any other way. But it WAS completely non-keyboard technique. For me, a little easier than for some because I'm a brass player, but I've heard non-wind players get excellent results.

The SA voices need the same kind of practice to get the same benefits, but boy! When you do.....!