This is a current picture of my studio, just to erase the idea that my setup is theoretical. The newest component is the Novation X-Station on the front left. I don't know why an experienced opinion like mine gives you concern, but you are ignoring one glaringly obvious fact here: my newest synth isn't a Yamaha or related to the Motif in anyway. I spent the exact same amount of time comparing the X-Station to the Ion and to many other options as well (you haven't said if you've tried an X-Station so my guess is you haven't). The X-Station completely, without any compromise in sound or function, blows the Ion away. Not only is it a true VA with effects built-in but it is a full audio/midi interface with setups for controlling softsynths like Reason v3.0 which I happen to also favor a lot (again, no relation to Yamaha or the Motif). I spend a lot of time and money in music production and I buy the products that not only best suit my needs but represent a good value - the X-Station won that battle against the Ion for me, and if you participated in other forums as often as I do then you'd see that I'm not the only one who thinks so.

The options I added to my Motif added a few hundred, not thousands, to the price... more important to me is whether options exist for customizing the instrument to my personal needs AT ALL.

BTW: this thread started by asking for informed opinions, not personal attacks or for narrow-minded slams against someone's music (you criticize me spending less than an hour trying out an Ion then you form a quick opinion about my musical tastes/abilities based on the few samples I have on my website?). I've spent more than three and a half decades in professional music, so when I spend money on a product, it's usually after through review of ALL options. That gives me nothing less than the equal right to say what I think here when asked. You can criticize my opinions but you don't know my music and you haven't seen me play so don't go there.

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"But to be fair I wasn't crazy about the lack of a hands-on interface for the PLG150-AN and I shopped around for a new VA. I tried out the Alesis Ion, but for my money I liked the Novation X-Station 49 better and I bought one."

Starting to catch on when I say Yamaha doesn't have VA or real analog that competes with Alesis. Not a matter of being fair, just a matter of seeing things for what they are.

You didn't catch on that I said I didn't like the lack of a hands-on interface and nothing more. Have you tried an X-Station 49? Or are you strictly biased towards Alesis? I mean, c'mon... even you can tell from my studio that not only do I own Yamaha and Novation and I've already mentioned Reason but that I actually considered the Alesis Ion and found seomthing better for the money. That proves I have no bias towards or against any manufacturer. So far I see no evidence that you have anything except a bias towards Alesis.

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Im still under the assumption that what Yamaha offers doesn't hold a candle to efforts from Korg/Alesis/Nord and so on. Why dont you google me up some review links that say otherwise.

...just kinda hard for me to say "in light of its predecessors" given this is the first " workstation " Alesis has put out

Funny thing here...I only brought up Alesis SYNTHS ( not romplers ), to illustrate that we could have something around the same level of their VAs with a 32track sequencer ( if Im thinking right on the 32 ). The synth engine for the Fusion is ALSO all new much like the sample set thats gonna be droped in it. Just given its been common knowledge for years that Alesis VA kicks more or less everyone to the curb ( where relative )...its not hard to extrapolate the new synth engine linked to a sequencer its sample banks user samples and 24bit recording across eight tracks could be a very good thing.

I've owned and used Alesis products for many years and at one time I worked in a music store and sold them. I knew the factory reps... one day I asked them why they discontinued the popular Alesis Datadisk, which I relied on for my gigs at one time... they told me because it used a Sony disk drive that was no longer made - they decided rather than rewrite the operating system to accomodate other disk drives, they instead dropped the product.

I know you're again ready to blast me with "what does this or ANY of their previous products have to do with their wonderful VA's and their first workstation?" and I'll tell you: I've given several solid factual references to Alesis products that didn't measure up to their competition, didn't last in the market, or were dropped by the company rather than upgraded. Facts, not opinion. If the past performance, reputation and products of a company doesn't matter to you then you suffer from tunnel vision.

I stand by my original post on this thread. I use a Motif ES because it's one of the most powerful instruments on the market today. When I bought it nothing else could compare and it came from a company with extensive experience in building workstations. Today the Motif is a standard against which all other workstations will be judged whether you like it or not. Reviews of the Motif ES stand up against anything even remotely similar (please confirm this yourself before asking me to Google it for you).

The Alesis Ion is a good synth but I found one better. It happens. The Fusion may be great but it has equal potential to suck and I think everyone here has already said that. For all I know I may buy a Fusion someday myself... but only if it's the best value for the money compared to everything else and IF I believe that Alesis is the kind of company I want to rely on, again.

Go try an X-Station, just so you know what Alesis is already falling behind...