Pianos typically depreciate in value...this is because the hammer mechanisms are somewhat delicate. As keys break and the wood parts inside wear, they can't be refurbed without a total replacement by the manufacturer in many cases. Finding a matching stool with pianos can be an issue because legs get broken very often....
Roland and Korg and Yamaha all make digital pianos. Back in the 70's and 80's synthesizer keyboards were the rage in touring bands. Once the midi sampling was defined on the sound format side, there was a standard and you could essentially load these keyboards up with a variety of synthesized midi files to mimic a large number of instruments... Standard formatting was key. All pianos sound different....some are brighter in tone, some more muted....and the differing files can mimic these different variances.
As for the physical piano....you can go cheap with one or invest more money depending on the action. Having 88 keys is a must for the purist and weighted keys are where the old synthesizers and organs didn't have a true piano feel when played. Many keyboardists though don't like the weighted keys because it takes more effort...so if you're playing really fast runs on a piano, it sometimes forces you to be too precise with your playing. My best example of this is the "Light My Fire" by the doors on organ. Not many songs in recent history feature the organ....listen to that song and you'll hear Ray Manzarek in parts almost sound sloppy or dirty, but it's the instrument and the style and it works. Another example is Vince Guaraldi playing Linus and Lucy (Peanuts theme)....but on piano. When he plays the "Dum Dum Dum Dum Da" part, he inadvertently hits an extra key in there that makes that roll at the end. It's because most of that song is played on the black keys and as he's transitioning from an E minor to an F, he accidently hits the E key...but everyone hears the E and it makes it sound more playful. He's not doing it on purpose... If you played that song in the key of C, you'd never have the opportunity to make that mistake and the song would sound way more boring. The weight of the piano keys is important to keep that tone lighter so he doesn't miff it and mash the keys the way Manzarek did. (Manzarek was a true Genius though...so I'm not suggesting he was sloppy unless he wanted to be)
I had a piano thread a few months back. I picked up 38 year old piano for $250. It's been fun watching my wife and kids play around with it. I've been encouraging them to do what they can. Roland has been selling pianos with coupon codes for $400-700 new lately. If I wanted an electric, I'd probably go that route.
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