I think in the long run, track lists will be largely irrelevant. Most songs are going to be sold via downloads. It makes more sense both from a consumer and sales standpoint.

I have yet to pay for a downloadable song and I don't intend to start, though. So to me, the track list from the disk is very important.

Do you really want a system where half the songs are in RB and half in GH so you have to choose one system over another? It seems a bit absurd to me. I'd rather pick an choose my music rather than paying for a bunch of songs I don't even like. And yes, you do pay for every song on that tracklist.

Wow thats pretty awesome. So I can hook up my Simmons SDK-5 and use it instead of the game drums?

Hmm All MIDI based... could hook up the keyboard controller too. Hell, I can just have my band practice using GH 4 =)

tracks are going to come on the disk Fishy, that's a definite. But I don't like paying more for extra songs. Perhaps if they had the game be it's normal price, with no songs on it, and you chose a certain number of songs from a DL list for free, then what you say would work. Because picking and choosing is an extra cost along with the disk, and I don't want this game to end up costing me 300 dollars or some ridiculous amount (assuming the kit costs 200 like RB if I remember)

I'm not sure if this is what you meant but I think you are talking about the slide neck being a solid black color in the videos so far?  If thats what you mean then it is just their working prototype, there is going to be colors there for the final product.

edit: Actually here is a short vid that just shows you what it will look like:

Ok, I guess let me rephrase again.

I don't like how Guitar Hero and Rock Band are going towards supporting real drums and real guitars. It just feels lame to me...I want a more arcade experience, I don't want things getting more realistic...I'd go and learn how to actually play these instruments if I did.

That's cool and you have the right to your opinion. I'd like to see the opposite happen though. I spend money on drumless tracks, but the quality isn't always the best and you rarely see drumless tracks for big hits.

Also it would be nice to be able to play with people who can't play real instruments.

After reading Kotaku's description of RB2, I'm 100% certain that I won't be buying it. RB2 seems like a rushed upgrade with few new features.

GHIV has become a must buy for me.

O.K. I agree. If GH or RB actually start having a difficulty like playing a real instrument then it would be bad for the series. Personally I've played the guitar and violin and so far GH isn't anywhere near that level of difficulty. I guess the drums might be the first to come close to being the same (but there's a reason for that).