Chas,
I actually was trying to send a sort of subliminal message - this topic has never been an easy one on this forum, and I doubt that it will ever be. My point, if I could sum it up in a few thoughts was this:

Whether you front a band, play bass pedals on an organ, use styles, trax, drum machines, iPads, pods, phones ... WHATEVER - its 2000 friggin 12, man! This is a technological age, and these are the tools and toys of the day. use 'em, don't use 'em ... who cares? Just be advised that if you choose to WORK in this business, then expect your competition to be using the same tools. The choice is yours, but but make no mistake - this is just good, solid business practice to know your field and keep a competitive edge. Without a business sense, you're doomed to be one of those "Starving" artist types. I prefer to be a "working" artist, and I've done it all - no midi, some midi, lots o' midi, mp3, tape, CD, bad players, great players, so-so players ... the one constant in all of it over the years has been THE AUDIENCE. My job, and my ONLY job, as it relates to business is to please the client. My duty to my soul as an artist is to find a compromise between talent and technology that can co-exist peacefully, and make good music that feeds my soul and my family.
To argue over the "lesser" of two evils (midi vs. styles) is just so ridiculous that I couldn't find the words before. I'm glad you shamed me into a reply - thanx.

When I front a band, I do far less than when I run a one man show with electronics - they are 2 entirely different techniques to reach the same end result - making good music that entertains and satisfies.