I got my M3 about a week ago but I returned it today even though I had to pay a restocking fee and, if I got another synth in 2007, it might be the Motif XS which seems to go past the M3 in almost every aspect. I initially got the M3 because I wanted a drum track, the KARMA function, the touch screen, workstation features, etc... but, collectively, these features didn't inspire me. Honestly, it's really not the M3's fault but, unlike the claims in the videos, the hardware just doesn't ramp up your skills like the volume slider can ramp up sound output. In general, I think the XS is much better technically. It extends the ES platform by adding a lot of convienence and ability. However, I'll probably just stick with my S90ES and do more with Cubase since that platform--in some ways, coupled with other pieces of software i have, runs circles around what's embedded in the synths themselves.

Unlike the two readers above the M3 is way ahead of that pack. I guess if you need to read the endless deep reviews comparing the three main companies the answers are the same.
Karma is so deep it is anything but basic. But with that in mind the learning curve is way beyond a lot of people that want instant gratification.
M3 is a new direction for the future that you either embrace and grow with it reaping the rewards or backwards to more basic hardware that is easier for a reason.....It's less adavnced.
But whatever it takes to make music is an individual direction that any of the big three can do...
But can you?
It's not the hardware, it's the person using it and how much he/she can get out of it....