Discussion of appearance 'versus' playback strikes me as a waste of time.

Ten years ago relatively primitive hardware precluded entirely satisfactory appearance AND playback.

Today's relatively advanced hardware means that BOTH are now possible.

Both Sibelius and Finale were developed when hardware was primitive.

'Steinbach' (or whatever) is being developed on the basis of what is possible NOW, and they have the advantage of the up-to-the-minuteCuBase sound system.

It is impossible to imagine that Daniel & Co could allow themselves to go off half-cocked