I agree SX700 is a great bang for the buck in so many ways..
I usually don't sing thru the KB anyway.
For VH TC helicon is the way to go.

I'd still want something around even as I wait. Maybe just a cheap DP to play for yourself on.

If it were only to vocal processor that would be an easy choose; but as we know from this comparison https://www.bonnersmusic.co.uk/yamaha-psr-sx700-vs-psr-sx900.irs aside from their design these keyboards have little in common.

At least SX700 is significantly cheaper than SX900. What Casio does with its CT-X700 and CT-X800 and with Casiotone series clearly shows that it has nothing to do with the real cost of units but is just about giving a customer an illusion of a choice in which buying a cheaper one would be rather wasteful.

It’s true that money don’t grow on trees, but sometimes people buy cars saving money on motorized windows and mirrors or A/C, which is comparing to a total car’s cost is insignificant, but at least it gives them a feeling that they saved some money on extras.

Totally with you on the chord recognition, Tracy.

Roland allows the most chords and chord types, and easiest progressions with a minimum of fingering. At least for the music I play. Generalmusic (R.I.P.) and the newest Casios use similar logic and are nearly as good. Korg is third--not as easy for "slash" chords. I personally rate Ketron fourth, because in my limited experience with them, the sixth chord tends to get in the way of my favorite inversions for minor sevenths. At this point in the pecking order, the fingering is different enough that I can't easily play my favorite songs And Yamaha is last. Someone needs to make Steve Deming write 100x on the blackboard "One finger equals a major chord"

Seriously, I think that all brands of arrangers should have more customization options surrounding chord recognition. It's a very important, and yet personal thing. If Roland does exit the arranger game, I'm gonna have to re-learn stuff. In fact it's probably easier to learn a new song, than it is to re-learn something I've been playing a certain way for years. NOT looking forward to that!!

Great idea.