While the interface speed may have sped up, the time to transmit the few kb that a style is is negligible even at USB1 speeds. I would think that seek time on the HD is the primary culprit here.

To be honest, USB2 is of little value in data transmission until you are transferring MB's of data. It may certainly help loading samples (if the RAM pipe is not already at capacity), but it should make little difference to style and SMF loading.

The problem really exists with using an HD instead of a FLASH RAM disk. The 50-60MB solid state disks on the Rolands are lightening fast, seamless style loading, instant SMF availability, but it only uses USB1. It also loads stuff just as fast from the PCMCIA card slot.

It's the HD that's the problem... get Yamaha to include a 50-100MB solid state drive and your problems should disappear...