I honestly don't remember who posted what, and it's perfectly o.k. to do so of course. I also break away and play guitar for myself. Never played piano, though I was a decent organ player.
I don't use the onboard speakers, but a couple of newer models may be adequate for use in a very small venue, like small nursing homes. They don't matter much one way or the other to me, and my audience can't see them anyway.
But I know you aren't saying you don't need talent to sound good on an arranger? I think we are confusing piano playing talent with arranger playing talent. They are totally different instruments. Yes, anyone can sit down and play one-finger chords and sound "good", but not really "good". So I understand where you are coming from. My background in organ, guitar, drums and trumpet certainly has translated to some degree to playing arrangers.
Instead of specific beefs, I'm referring more to the overall tone that seems to say arrangers are inferior...not real instruments. If a person THINKS they are inferior, then they ARE, to him.
My good friend DNJ starts a lot of this, but he just likes to stir things up. He is an arranger lover to the Nth degree, having owned 473 of them.
Other good friends, Russ and Chas, are not really arranger players and never claimed to be.
I can't touch what they do on their instruments, but I can hold my own with mine!
I'm already wishing I hadn't started this. It really doesn't matter...
Best to everyone. I love you all. Don't hate me, I cry easily these days.