Tom, you missed the whole point of what I was saying. First off, I believe I have every right to choose not to use an arranger keyboard in a live gig situation (and not have to defend it, although I did try to explain why). Secondly, my observation of arranger players quickly becoming defensive at the very hint that an arranger keyboard may not be the best choice for all music and all situations. Thirdly, with all due respect, Uncle Dave is not the level of professional I'm referring to when I use the term 'professional'. There are community symphony orchestras and there is the Philadelphia Orchestra. When I use the term 'professional', I'm talking about the ones that play in the Philadelphia Orchestra. Fourthly (is that a word?), your Paul McCartney example has nothing to do with arranger keyboards and using STYLES, NOT SOUNDS, to emulate, simulate, imitate, a bunch of instruments being played simultaneously by one guy. All the rest of your questions are equally irrelevant because they focus on SOUNDS, not the process of arranger (style) playing (you know, AUTO-accompaniment). And lastly......your statement that.....
"For most of us it is about the generation of a musical performance (entertainment and total sound)and using whatever tools necessary to do it." may be true for YOU and a few others on THIS ARRANGER BOARD, but you should not assume that it is true for all musicians. The are quite a few out there that also care about the integrity of their performances and the integrity of the music.

chas

PS: I actually do get out quite a bit and am fairly active in my local professional music community. I stand by my statement. I know at least 100 local musicians and at least 20-25 keyboard players in the greater Atlanta area, and not a single one owns an arranger keyboard. This is not an indictment of arranger keyboards, just an indication that they are not very popular in my neck of the woods. Maybe they just don't get enough exposure, for whatever reason. No hard feelings. As is often said around here, play whatever you like (and feel good about it, Ian does ).

chas