As a former software developer, I gotta say, with no disrespect intended, the -last- thing VSL needs is to get more 'programmery'.
If anything, I'd prefer that VSL heads in the direction of being more like a violin... in that it gets fewer and fewer 'options' over time and becomes more -playable-... in real time. ie. it will 'see' the notes and with only one or two controllers figure out your -intention- and then generate the proper performance for you. It's already a long way there, but it certainly can and will go -much- further.
I foresee a day not too far off when there will be nothing like patches/matrices/keyswitches/xfades... except for people who want to make -un-realistic (obviously electronic) sounds. People will laugh out loud at all the MIDI contortions we had to go through to get a 'realistic' performance. I believe it will take as much skill to 'play' VSL as it does a violin (as it does now) but that skill will have less to do with 'programming' and be more like the skills one uses to play a real violin.
Today, you use a zillion primitive controllers, switches, presets, etc. to emulate a violin. It just takes patience to build something--like a castle of toothpicks. Tomorrow: it will be like a violin: only a few interface elements but you'll spend a good while learning to manipulate them expressively. But once you master it? You'll make music---real music--as effortlessly as a good violinist.
That's -my- dream. Real time expression.
But hey... you are welcome to your fantasy as I am to mine. :D VSL has made it clear they're fully booked so it's all blue skyin' anyhoo.
I'm still tryin' to figure out slurs and legato... hint, hint. :D
---JC