While I was distracted from any playing in public and was focused on playing at home eventually I became puzzled about why most of keyboards are only 61 keys. But then I felt the need to get back in the game and the outside world quickly replied to my question. 61 keys allows you to get a keyboard into a small elevator with no need to hold it vertically, and then you can put it in a trunk of a small car. Of course with a backseat folded there’s room even for a digital piano, but it feels safer when no one can see what’s inside the car while you’re away, let’s say, having coffee in a shopping center on your way home.

So while I still want some extra keys, I have to appreciate more that less keys may make life less complicated.
Have to reconsider some of my future purchases…

I have to admit I like the idea of 76 keys but will probably stick with 61 keys for next keyboard. That would give me 122 keys with 2 61's. That should be enough to keep me busy.

While I like more than 61 keys it just isn't practical for fitting in a car.

thats why i always drove a van, big enough to fit a b3 and a couple of leslies. kinda miss those days

If you wonder why I voted for 49 keys, my Russian friend... it was because you did not list 36 keys. I do not play well and only employ chords with my left hand... letting the arranger, multi-pads and Yamaha Styles do the "heavy lifting." I am only a song-writer and my needs are different from the many talented people who "inhabit" this wonderful web-site.

I don't have to "perform" as such... and a smaller keyboard (with the rest of the features of my current PSR-S970) would give me more room in my small recording studio I fondly call, "Jackass Flats" to add more gear to help me improve my recordings.

Thanks for asking... and for the "poll!"

I am sure you miss PLAYING the b3, but HAULING that gear around? ... I bet not so much ...

All of my current KB are 61 keys. I almost never play the top octave. But now that I've been using the "Bass Inversion" setting a lot, I can appreciate the 76-key variants. With another half-octave at the bottom, I could set my split and not have to worry about changing it with every song.

A while back Deane (Hammer) shared that he sometimes plays gigs with a 49-key controller and a module. Using the Bass Inversion setting, you need up to 23 keys (basically the lower two octaves) for chords. This leaves only two octaves for the melody. If the song begins on F or G, it seems like you would run out of room! I would love to use a 49 compact controller on certain occasions, but it seems like it just isn't enough for all possible chords & melody. What am I missing here?

Pretty clever Kabinopus.

Put the back seats down. In my Ford edge I slide my BK9 in and keybaord stand next to it. On my R&R cart I stand both up with bunge cords.
You can't buy a subcompact car and then have to figure how to get your equipment in. When I had biiger equipment I actually took a demop car home to see if everything would fit. Although I've see pics of guys putting their Hammond Clones and mini Leslies and other stuff in sub compacts its just too much hassle.

I'll add another view of how many keys. What does it lok like in a preformance ? Sitting or standing behind a tiny keyboard can look amateurish to the regular crowd. Recently my friend and his brother who both play keys made mini Grand Piano shells to look more professional.
Why does Elton John still sit behind a 9' fake paino shell ? for us mere mortlals we have to consider the moving hassels so its a tossup.