The customer is indeed part of the problem, and perhaps has been
for a long time.  About twenty years ago I was in a piano store,
and put my fingers carelessly on an evil Kimball spinet.  It sounded
awful.  I remarked to the salesman about it, and he said that someone
would like it and buy it.

Weeks later, when I was there again, a lady came in and plunked
the keys on the Kimball, and then remarked how she _liked the tone!_
I bit my tongue.  A few weeks later, the piano was gone.

It's not just the tiny size; I think some people are scared of a
piano that even _sounds_ big.

Peter Neilson
Sanford, NC

 [ Yeah, it might disturb the neighbors...  :-(  -- Robbie