I don't think hardware will ever get redundant. Using computers live is asking for trouble. Also, there's something about using a nice Emu E4 or Kurzweil K2600, that software will never be able to beat.

-tek

I use lots of hardware samplers and absolutely love them. I've got AKAI's (S1000, S3000's), a Sequential Studio 440, and three Fairlight CMI's and wouldn't think of replacing them with any software sampler since nothing sounds as good. There's something about the sound quality of the CMI that can't be duplicated. I used to have several Kurzweil and Emulator samplers as well but have since parted with them although I wish I had kept my Emulator II+.