-Tools of the Trade-

In terms of sound quality of VSTs, as with all things, there are good ones and there are bad ones but even the bad ones can be coerced into doing something interesting (just like some 'real' synths).

Interaction with a laptop will always be less than instinctive - you're using a tool designed for wordprocessing not for making music. However, adding a damn good control surface will improve the situation no end. The fact that the USB k/b I attach to the laptop has programmable knobs means that I can tweak filters, envelopes, mixers as I play. Much like an analogue synth but staying in tune