I agree Chas, and if I can share my little story. My father was the first that I knew of that owned an arranger keyboard. I don't quite remember the brand and model but it was one of the first that had advanced styles (versus the rather mundane drum beats on home organs) but we're talking way back when.

He was up there in age at that time, and being a musician, it was perfect for him to play and sing at nursing homes, the VFW, etc. Not to mention, it was easy for him to pack it up on his "snowbird" trips to Florida.

But I remember at the time, I was thinking, I would never play something like this, this so called keyboard, until he gave me his, when he upgraded. That was the early Nineties, and I've never looked back, and now I'm very happy he got me started with arranger keyboards. Today, for me, now an old fart, there's nothing better than playing at home with headphones on, just relaxing and forgetting about world troubles. I actually do like arrangers, as they can be used with or without backing tracks.

I was kinda young when I started, and perhaps those that are kinda young today, will also discover the benefits of an arranger keyboard. I have noticed some change in Yamaha styles and voices, that now include more modern beats, that may, or may not, attract young players. But getting kids to try an arranger is a whole other story. I've heard "that's for old people". And my answer is the familiar response "someday you'll be old"

We can only wait and see if Yamaha, Korg, Ketron, and others will keep on updating with new arranger keyboards, and perhaps younger players, who will get old, will find out what they've been missing. We shall see.