I have not programmed PADS on the Yamaha, but I can tell you the PADS functions and ease of programming them (copy from any style element, roll your own OR import from MIDI) on the Korg PA2XPRO is superb. Recently I have discovered just how good they work and sound. Sometimes they are so good...I don't even use the style!

With the PA, they do not sync start with the style, but they are synced to the style if it is running.

Lee