On my PSR-S900, I use a Yamaha FC-7 volume pedal for pitch bends when I want that effect in any quantity whilst in arranger mode...I mostly use the wheel at home.

Never liked the Roland bender as it is impossible to leave modulation "on"...you have to keep pressure on the lever...Korg's joy-stick is no better...and like you, I didn't much care for the sideways motion....plus, if your playing a 76 note keyboard, the bender is a loooonnng reach.

Wheels are the way to go...my Mini-Moog had them, as did my DX-7 and Casio CZ-1...you could, as you say, "hang your hand right on the corner of the keyboard and make both wheels really effective".

My old Roland Jupiter 8 had the lever...it was awkward, and I never got used to it...you had to push so hard for modulation, the keyboard would actually move away from you...and the JP-8 wasn't light.

Diki's suggestion of a "chord sequencer" would go a long way in solving many of the issues we have with pitch bending.

The Yamaha SA voices are relatively easy to work...we're not going to fool a real sax player, but it does give the "impression" of a Saxophone.

Ian