Sorry about the diversion...Considering the size of the population and the relatively larger emphasis on club culture I think that the effects I described are magnified there, though. In the US, there is a larger market, and probably a smaller population of listeners (or at least a much less concentrated population) which seems to have led to the ability of the two scenes/musics/whatever to coexist, often in the same evening, which is a good thing. If England is at all a model, though, then it will simply take a bit more time for individual empowerment via music technology to become a driving force in America's musical landscape - especially if it becomes less expensive - and I'm all for it.
Hey, if anyone knows of any good books or other writing on music history with a particular emphasis on the influence of technology please let me know. It's probably too early in history for someone to have written a full-blown exposition on the topic but maybe someone's seen a chapter of a book or something? I hope I'm alive 50 years from now because our generation will definitely get to see exactly how technology will come to influence future music, and I'm sure the books will be written (hey, maybe I'll write it...)
Jay 'rambling' B