I'm all in favor of passionate idealistic synthesizer designers who - I might add - are reminiscent of our venerable old friend, Dave Smith. But remember, even Dave's initial demos were lacking in luster:
Many of the instruments I have now, and adore, only grew on me after viewing/hearing many demos. Often with a synth, I have a "meh" initial reaction, but then several months down the road after more research and/or listening to various custom sound banks, I'm able to assess the cumlative personality of the synth... and usually that process doesn't let me down with regard to whether to buy or not. Certain instruments have defied that process... for example I never had a meh reaction to the P10 Rev4, it was more like I just instantly knew... bucket list alert.. I get a similar feeling from the OB-X8, it seems like an inevitable buy assuming a desktop version is released.
I'm back in Berlin at the moment where I have multiple music stores easily accessible. I've been able to wander the keyboard department of JustMusic a couple times now. It's silly - and I admit my bias - but I've been relieved that neither the OB-X8 nor the Take 5 knocked me out! Granted, we're talking only 5 minutes or so with each, through ill-fitting Justin headphones. The relief I mention is because I have neither space nor funds for more synths. And... I'm finding myself actually content with the gear I have. I'm always keen for something new and weird, or something classic and righteous, but again, I've got "enough stuff," probably. Back to the music store moments - I couldn't figure how to get the Take 5 to stop twitching the pitch of one osc, but I did very much like the sound of the synth. Not in a "I must have it!" way, though. The one that surprised me, as I've not so far really fallen for Arturia gear, was the Poly Brute. Again with the bias, but I plugged the headphones with no particular hope of happiness, but I loved what I heard.
The keyboards that STILL call to me every time are those in the Yamaha Reface series. I've had the CP for years and it's been one of ever-favs. I covet the CS and am never disappointed when I play one. A recent studio session had me playing a gorgeous 1966 Vox Continental on a friend's record and so, for the first time, I bothered to try the Reface YC. Those do tempt me and wouldn't break the bank.
I think I'm posting this because it feels a rare thing to find myself more excited by what I have than by what I wish I wanted! Not that I don't always dig my gear, but we all understand the pull towards new/next/other etc. And not to be a brat, but the Artisan stuff hasn't caught my attention at all. I'm glad so many people are making synths, but I do want something with a sound that immediately catches me.