because the commercial realities mean that a board such as you described would neverf sell ! As soon as a manufacturer peared down an instrument like that into just the simple basic functions it would lose any competitive advantage.It would have less features than the competition and there would be no justification to sell it and make any kind of profit.

Keyboard manufacturers differentiate themselves by emphasising keyboard features and promoting them. A reduced featured keyboard would mean less for the manufacturers to find an angle to differentiate itself in a good way to the market

[This message has been edited by Spalding1 (edited 01-06-2007).]