First, I agree with everything said.
Originally Posted by: William 
Another thing that struck me is how VSL innovated the analysis of musical phrases and performance - now it's normal for sample libraries but VSL was the first using performance of legato, repetitions, round robins etc. that make the performance so close to real.
It should be normal, but it isn't. It's very far away, in my opinion.
The only thing much talked about is this exaggerated, portamento-y legato. Every developer wants to have a better legato as the competition, but they totally neglect the very important performances and elements (like connected repetitions etc.). All the libraries I own don't have these performances – all the time it's only legato, legato and legato, and even this isn't made right. Some libraries have only bow change legato as their standard legato patch, it's ridiculous. VSL did everything right in the first place and no other library really comes close.
The only other library I have which has something in this direction is Hollywood Orchestra. They have a legato repetition patch, but it is far away from VSL's excellent scripting. Other libraries have repetitions where you have to press a key-switch or hold the sustain pedal; with VSL you just play the legato patch and you have repetitions built in (or switch to the performance repetitions in the VI libraries).
And this is really what I'm ALWAYS talking about, either here in this forum or at vi-control. VSL and other libraries, it's really like apples and oranges. And this is because you don't know anything about VSL's patches as a new user or buyer. You see lower prices at the competition and expect that the less expensive library has everything VSL has. VSL's prices actually has to be higher (sorry, wallet!), because they both have higher quality control, better scripting and these different performances. And, most of all, different (high-quality) legato recording/scripting. Many libraries just use simple legato crossfades or only bow-change legato instead of dedicated legato landing notes, and have the same prices as VSL. VSL's legato feels like playing the actual instruments, and because of this legato approach, you can play even trills. Other libraries have severe problems playing trills with the legato patch.