Sampling to be honest is not a big issue for me.

although its handy to have it there if needed but ide rather be spending most of my time writing music and sequencing patterns instead of having to try and generate the sounds needed.

ide rather just buy a keyboard that has the sounds i want already on there (and lightly modify some of them with effects) if you get me?

My Korg PA 800 has an extensive sound editor built into the OS but no matter how much u can tweak and adjust, if there's a particular sound u want to create u just cant always get it.

i think the reason why Yamaha left out the expansion cards is because u can simply go online and purchase all these different sound and style sets and just chuck them onto a USB key. it works out much cheaper and it gives them the ability to create much more variety rather than just 4 expansion cards ever being released for the keyboard during its 5 year lifespan of productivity.

just my two cents...

Nick