Until the MS can have the VST instruments be reliably used by the sequencer, keyboard AND arranger sections, and have the factory develop styles for very specific ones (say Trilogy for bass, DFH for drums, B4 for organs, Ivory for piano, etc.), it is always going to struggle to sound as effective as an arranger that has had all its' styles developed for its' own sound-set.

Add to that, if it continues to be as 'open' as it is now, it is going to need some VERY sophisticated mapping technology, WAY beyond just PC and volume CCs, to batch convert all its' styles to whatever VST you choose. Sophisticated velocity curve mapping comes to mind as a necessity, along with careful re-mapping of hi-hat mappings, as most VST's go WAY beyond GM in their hi-hat control.

The more you think about the concept of an 'open' arranger, the more you realize the difficulty of developing styles that will work with whatever VSTs the end user chooses. From what I've heard of the factory demos, the on-board sounds compare poorly to even a mid-line arranger, yet alone approach the T2, etc.. And unfortunately, THAT is what the styles are being developed for....

I think it would be far better for Domenik to do a deal with a few decent VST instrument developers, license their sounds, and develop for them... Include their price in the main price (after all, who is going to buy one of these and NOT go out and get several really good VSTs, anyway?) and finally have something that WOULD make even a T2 owner go wow!