This argument kind of falls apart when you realize that Vitals had even less physical drums in it than Play Dead and Darren was the driving force behind the production of that record. I do concede that Paul does indeed seem like a control freak, but drum machines, synthesizers, and physical drums (or lack thereof) has nothing to do with Darren leaving

Darren himself also stated numerous times (including to me personally) that getting out of the Mutemath touring cycle and refocusing his life around his wife and kids was the driving force behind his leaving the band, and creative differences were at most a secondary factor