Can you get the Pad to 'Replace' the Variation as well as add to it, James? I don't see how this could really be used to get a proper fill out of a Variation if it can't...
No, it's not meant to replace any existing part of a style. They are performance pads that add to your performance and they can be set to sync with the arranger side of the keyboard or not. So all I'm suggesting is that with a little creative usage you could overlay them in a One Shot mode synced with the Styles to simulate a fill. How effective that would be depends on the style I guess.
But I still don't see why Korg cling so stubbornly to the 'two fills and a B/F' paradigm for so long (especially as they just went through a major OS revision) while their competition outstrips them on this issue.
I'm only guessing here but I would say it's not an issue that needs attention based on the activities I see on KORG Forums. I don't remember anyone ever asking for additional fills, and it's not on the current Pa2X wish list the guys have going over there.
I don't know really, I'm only guessing here based on what I read over on KORG Forums each day.
Regards
James