Fran I agree with most of what you say but what I meant by 'a live band responding to YOU rather than YOU responding to a (more or less) 'fixed' midi file' is; live players will listen to what you are playing and adjust their own playing (volume, phrasing, complimentary riffs, alt. chord selection, etc.) to compliment what you are doing. A midi file is...well, a midi file. You have to play within the parameters set by it. In other words, live....the band follows you, midi file.....you follow it.

But yes, properly set up, you will probably sound better playing over a midi file than with a style. For starters, you don't have to worry about things like when to introduce a break or change variations, etc. and can devote all your concentration on just 'your' part. Of course some will disagree, and frankly, you could probably make an argument either way, but that's what makes it a DISCUSSION, not a STATEMENT OF FACT.

chas