In my many years of selling and doing clinics with arrangers, very, very few young people bought them back then, and not much more buy the instruments today.

At one time, cheap Casio and Yamaha PSS keyboards were bought for youngsters (20 and under), but were mainly considered toys or at least, most never took them too seriously.

In my experience it has always been the older (over 30 ) player that usually invested in an arranger keyboard and it's the same today.

I didn't really start using one till I was around 30...before that, they weren't flexible or powerful enough to use as a performance keyboard.

I think the Karaoke/keyboard/SMF/MP3 and/or DJ'ing is the future as far as performers making any money for solo acts...other than the traditional singer/guitarist.

I'm just glad I retired and don't have to deal with all that silliness.

Now, I can just sit and play (or record) what I want on my Tyros4 and leave all that juggling to those who either like it, or need to do it, although I still take the occasional gig or recording job if the price is right.

Ian