Spalding ..I got the impression..you were trying to knock the Roland RD700sx piano sample ..more than judging the value of VST's ..

BTW : you would lose that bet about the "larger size" of the RD700sx piano sample..

Total wave memory:

128 M bytes (16-bit linear equivalent)

I also agree that size does/can matter..as FAEbGBD..touched on..the layers of sampled piano is what gives the overall sample the dynamics..this will use more memory [Size)..Sure you can get a great sound with 16 -32 megs..as that Italian grand sample posted..BTW: many consider that Italian brand the best in the world..

For the most part the 3 strike Yamaha, or 4 layered Roland piano will sound good and do the job...but to state that a larger sample would not do a far better job is just silly... 12 or more layers of velocity switched piano samples will show the dynamics at different volumes and attack(velocity) dynamics too..that using a filter by itself will not do..

I still like the RD700 pianos..they are clean and very playable..not as bright and buzzy as some of the others you suggested..