Yeah. Would love to see some new additions to the PC3K, but I guess that won't be happening. I still like the PC3K...the key bed is awesome. I just rely on VST's now like the new Keyscape from Spectrasonics.

...and I will state that the playability on the PC3K is much better.
The action is much smoother and responsive.
I use the PC3K as my main board and use the Kronos for certain other realities.
The Kronos offers a lot but especially of late, I am always going back to the PC3K.. I also agree with your decision to not go for the Forte.
I use the Riff feature constantly and to give that up along with the sequencer would be a mistake for me. I do think you will end up very happy with your decision.
Remember this also, I don't know your age, I am 58, but the learning curve on the Kronos is very daunting in many ways....

=42, So no spring chicken either. And my hands are slowly succumbing to arthur itis. meh.

You hit the nail right on the head regarding the kronos it is 100% a playability thing for me.

At the end of the day I am sure the Forte is an awesome instrument, but it is a stage instrument first and foremost, and the K8 is a preformance controller. I did briefly look at the PC3A8, but two things prevented me from purchasing it also, namely price and features over & above the K8.

The only downside was the german D rom replacing the 128mb sample rom. Still... more than happy considering, and still working out what sounds in the kore64 I like and what I don't.

Hi,

The Forte started as a stage piano indeed but, today, it's much more than that. You can edit your VAST programs and your FXs and you can have arpeggiators with step sequencer and have 3.3 GB of sample space to load all the samples you need... so, yeah, things are setup for a nice an easy live performance but it gives you a lot of flexibility in order to use it in studio as well.