Roland is just dong what all the other big companies are doing; using old technology in new enhanced versions... it happens all the time, but sometimes it's not so obvious.
With the System-8, they are reusing what's in the new ACB series like the TR-08 and Boutiques... someone mentioned that INTEGRA-7 is sample based... yes it is, but more accurately, that technology (SuperNatural) is a fusion of VariPhrase technology and their behavioral modelling technology... if you look at the V-Synth GT, it had an early incarnation of the Behavioral modelling technology, but they called it AP Synthesises... with the Integra-7 and Jupiter-80 (and the two new synths with built in analog voices as well) it was transformed into SuparNatural synthesis.
We have also seen KORG reuse their Multi Oscillator Synthesis technology on several products... MS2000, Radias, Electribes, Microkorgs etc.
Yamaha is also constantly perfecting their AWM2 synthesis in their newest Motif series, and I guess it's present in the Montage as well.
So.. it's not really uncommon to feel a bit "reused" when you buy stuff from these companies... Dave Smith Instruments does it too... look at the features, and you'll see different iterations of the same technology.
To me the System-8 actualy sounds very good, and I like that it has built in FX of this high quality along with a really good analogish sound to it... but as others here, I think the price is too steep... and also... no rack-version makes it a dealbreaker for me... I have my studio in my bedroom, on 4x4m including a double bed, so I simply cannot afford the space for all those darn keyboards.... so I'll probably pass on this one.
And about the 49 keys? ... I don't really care (I don't need them), but I can live with 49 keys if I have to... it's my absolute minimum, but I've not missed more on my Blofeld Keyboard to be honest.