That is what I would assume people do, but I guess the little keyboard makes it easy to experiment when finding sounds. I've not really played much with MIDI. I have a keyboard and an interface to the PC, so I could experiment. I need to get to grips with how it all links together.
I use Ubuntu Studio that includes a load of synths and I could get more for free. I just need the time to figure these things out.
MIDI can be a pain at times, especially when you’ve got a whole load of hardware connected together. I’m forever figuring out why one synth is receiving signal but another isn’t but it’s wired up.
I’ve never tried Ubuntu studio but nowadays more invested in Ableton and Logic.
I've used Ardour for a few projects and it's probably all I need as a DAW.
It is one of the decent ones out there that is for sure, great for recording acoustic instruments