Thanks for the detailed replies. I really do appreciate the effort and passion for the subject.
To address a few points. We are blessed with choice these days. Many of these products can achieve the same thing. It's the
way they do it that makes it fun or a chore. Certain mind-sets will fit with certain working styles and not with others.
Labcoats, regarding the MPC 5000, yes, I have read about the MIDI timing and quite a few other issues (although it seems not every 5000 owner has them) so I decided to get with the present and future more than the past.
Regarding DAW features, I don't think I 'demanded' anything (let alone screamed).
I merely contributed to this thread regarding audio tracks. As this has already been done by Akai on the 5000 it is not unreasonable to think they could do an OK job of it in a hybrid MPC like the Ren.
One of my dissapointments with hardware MPC's/Roland MV's was that they were powered by ancient spec computer parts inside the box (slow CPU's and HD's). The Ren has taken that weak link out of the equation at least.
While I understand your 'Pandora's Box' concerns (that the Ren, in the scenario you paint, could end up looking a little like the car designed by Homer Simpson...) you state that you are not averse to audio tracks. You also make the suggestion that I may be better off with a hardware MPC and a hard disk recorder but surely a MPC Ren with audio tracks would be a much more elagant solution to acheive exactly the same result? I assume this is what both Roland and Akai were thinking when they released their hardware sampling sequencers with audio tracking (MPC 5000/MV 8800).
I think we actually are in agreement on many aspects. I stated in my original post that I thought DAWs have become overly complex. You state I might be disappointed by the rather simple sequencer spec of the Ren. Actually its basic simplicity is one of the things that attracted me.
To give a parallel to this, I write books, blogs and articles (not music related). My word processor/text editor of choice is the minimalist Writemonkey precisely because it is a very non-distracting environment in which to write. I only use MS Word to put things in a format easily transferred to other places. To quote a writer who published 90 books in 30 years about the secret of his prolific output: "I avoid labor saving devices." (Logic's old 'environment page' anyone?...)
I think too many editing tools means one becomes too tempted to 'polish a turd' instead of just doing another performance/take. I contributed to the Writemonkey forum with a post much like Labcoat's on this thread about not screwing up the innate Zen-like concept by pandering to too many feature requests.
Like pspsounds I agree that "Audio tracks would be cool with basic editing features"
Regarding sampling, I prefer to sample myself. I am not that interested in gargantuan sample libraries. Again, perhaps unlike many here I have never made and probably will never make a hip-hop track. I look at the Ren as simply a fun way to put together musical ideas regardless of style.
It's not life and death for me. It's creative play. I used to sing in a punk band in the late '70's called 'The Penetrators' so a sense of humor comes with the territory...