-Tools of the Trade-

There

Hardware wise I'd agree but new innovation in synth techniques has tended to come from software these days like the Virsyn Cube, MAX/msp and Reaktor as the complexity of these programs is often more practical to use on a large screen with a mouse than some dedicated hardware that would cost a lot more to manufacture especially with the risk of entering and trying to open up a new market which could easily be a flop like the Neuron. I think most Electronic musicians would rather spend a

Lot's of interesting points
One thing I think is overestimated is the concept of "new" synthesis or sounds.
I think music based around sound gets old quickly. What exactly is lacking in our sonic palette? I say nothing, and if it is, then it can be created with adding a few existing machines together.
I would rather focus on quality instruments and to be honest I have never found an instrument that sounds that great without processing or effecting it or mixing it with another instrument.
A DX7 with a top quality reverb or say an H3000 will sound nicer to me than the latest VSTi with a software reverb.
This is my main issue with MOST electronic music I hear these days. It is just layers of sound that hides the musician behind it. The personality is not there.
Serendipity is the word I think? Modern synths are designed for that. Twiddling and playing until you stumble across something that sound nice and then pretending it was meant all along. I can download any number of free albums full of that stuff. Luckily there is enough truly creative music around ( some of it from people here) and once again, I'd rather have a nice collection of quality music than 200gb of free music that sound ok.
Hence, I agree with Stephen that I would rather get the machines that have the quality I feel I need to make my music on rather than have all the virtual options under the sun available to me so I can do "everything".
I have yet to find a software instrument apart from Kyma that has superb sonic qualities tbh.
As a pointer, Phaedra by TD was done on pretty old instruments. The Moog had been around nearly a decade. The Mellotron for over a decade, Guitar, Organ, Piano for centuries.
It wasn't original because of the gear but it certainly sounded new.

Also, the audio quality of modern productions is often, quite dreadful. No understanding of mixing or use of effects. No real arranging of the music to let sounds breathe and fit in. The idea of unlimited tracks and never ending plugins etc.. if that is your first encounter of music making, it is easy to see why thinking out of the box has become hard. Limitations have and always will force creativity and I would rather have limited gear that is of high quality than a huge quantity of mediocre equipment.

Rant over and as always, only my opinion..

Means to express what you have inside...

Well said!