Actually, the V-Piano MODELS the strings, rather like Modarrt's Pianoteq2 software, etc..

The big difference I see in this is that, although the fully sampled piano sets like Ivory (which I have also used, and like a lot) sound great, it is just ONE set of samples, from ONE piano with ONE tuning degree on it.

But with a V-Piano, you can make it more or less 'in tune', mess with the intonation, make it sound 'played in' or 'showroom' at will. For many people, that's not that big an issue, but for session players, having the ability to choose rough or smooth, or any degree in between, even having say a showroom low end but a bit more played in middle and upper, it all helps to make the performance less cookie cutter, more individual to the piece and how the band is playing.

Imagine all those old jazz classics, or Motown hits, with a PERFECT piano sound. They wouldn't hold up the way they do, IMO. Technology has made 'perfect' commonplace. But who wants to be 'commonplace'?