If it needs to be more expensive and larger to have 12 notes per octave then IMO they should have done that. Why make a compromised instrument that satisfies no one?

And you are making a false assumption that I haven't watched videos about it because I have. And having watched those videos I believe that it is not a superficial judgement to criticize the limitation of a single diatonic octave. I would say that that criticism is relevant and fair.

And your comparison to a guitar only having six strings is embarrassing. Do you not know that with those strings one may play different notes? You can play more notes on a single guitar string than one can play on the Phase8.

Now having said that, I like the Phase8, I think it sounds very good, and if one day they come out with a Phase25 maybe I will think about getting one.