Hey, I'm a newbe to the forum. After an absence of playing anything for 12 years, on a whim I decided to get a Yamaha ypg-225/dgx-220. I am very pleased, not only with the particular brand I got, but with the fact that I chose an arranger over just a pure digital piano or a pure synth. At the time I bought it my plan was just to play around with it and maybe re-learn some Bach and Scarlatti. I thought the drums/accompanyment would be a cute accessory that I wouldn't really even use, my only experience with auto-accompanyment being a Yamaha Electone organ.
Well , its been a couple months now and boy did I get lucky with my whimsical choice.
Not only do I use some of the really good sounds to play various baroque and classical composers, but I get a great kick out of being a one man band and playing pop and jazz stuff. My friend is a pretty good singer and we have a blast having a few drinks and playing Dean Martin tunes.

I was shocked at how much the technology has improved since I last looked at electronic instrumets so long ago. The sounds and styles are so much better, and for $400 Canadian yet. I must confess I was a little suprised that there is a market for arrangers at all. I guess they filled the gap left from home organs? For some reason it shocks me that there are people who want to play and accompany themselves at home, or that people can gig as well. I can't explain why this suprises me. Regardless, I am delighted.
Is there a long future for arrangers? In 10 years am I gonna still be able to buy what for me is the ultimate goal, a non-wieghted keyboard with a whole crapload of voices and styles, with speakers built in?