Very true but probably falling on deaf ears. Trying to make yourself sound better than you really are is not the ONLY reason people buy arrangers, but it's probably the BIGGEST reason. Second biggest; most (but not all) can't play a regular instrument well enough to impress anybody, let alone get a paying gig. Stay tuned for a flurry of rebuttals and angry denials.

chas [/quote]

Chas
I agree but in a limited way. I started using drum machines when my drummer moved and I couldn't find a decent replacement. Then on to Arrangers so I didn't have to carry two keyboards, bass pedals, and a drum machine. I can play piano and Hammond pretty good but your very limited in the Styles you can play with those alone IE: dance music.. Using an arranger has expaned my songlist greatly. Things now are changing again and its DJ's and Karaoke acts or a million Acoustic Guitar player/singers. I'm trying to go back to solo piano and vocals if I can fine the right place.
For home players the Arranger is just a lot of fun and does allow a mediocre player to up his game.