Diki, I completely agree with your last post, apart from the dodging fills issue bit. Which I wasn't, well not intentionally anway.

I was just pointing out that it CAN be done, not that it was easy. I did it on the Motif rack I had with a footpedal attached.

Although to be honest, I only ever had it set for 1 bar in advance as I was never that good in hitting the pedal at exactly the right time.
Because you are 100% correct in that if you miss, even by a gnats fanny hair, it goes out.

As you say, it's a real shame, because if Yamaha included only a BASIC arranger engine in the Motifs, they would truly be a "killer" keyboard.

Dennis