Here is the US WorkStations, synths, digital pianos out sell arrangers probably 10 to 1. If you are going to invest your money in the music industry, guest where it will go.
Go to any of our big music retailers stores (Guitar Center and Sam Ash) and observe where the customers go:
1- Guitars
2- Drums and other percussion instruments
3-Keyboards (no arrangers)
4- Wind instruments
5- Speakers and amplifiers
and then, in the way out they maybe will notice an arranger and just pass by.
Another factor is the education system. Observe the parents looking for instruments for their children in school, they never ask for an arranger.
Most of the arranger use in US is by people 40+ years old.
Arrangers are no used in Churches either. I only know 2 churches (from around 500) around here that use them.
Investment is going to be where the market is.
Interesting observation, but not sure what the popularity of arrangers or the lack thereof, has to do with Bill's topic of U.S. styles, sounds, and features, and the input of U.S. users of said styles available for current Arrangers.
If I understand him correctly he was questioning why the U.S. and U.S. Arranger users do not have more 'say' in the overall platform of Arranger keyboards, and the lack of third party styles and sounds available from said U.S. users.
BTW...we all know Arrangers are probably not the best selling items at stores like Guitar Center, Sam Ash, etc.
I'm not sure what that means, but it does not mean that Arrangers are inferior, just made for a particular market.