It’s a bit strange if true. It would seem (to me at least) that replicating a digital synth in digital would be easier than replicating an analogue synth in digital. To me, all demos sounded equally cheesy and crisp on both. Still can’t figure out which one I like the most between it and the JX.
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Would love to hear more about this. Are you using it standalone to jam/noodle on? With or without a keyboard?
I have a 707 and 101. You are correct, neither can load the Model Expansions. I don’t have a burning desire for them anyway, as I really like some of the presets in the Sound Packs that are 101/707 compatible.
Sounds like your real reason for wanting “Zenology support” is you want a librarian for patch sharing. I have no doubt somebody will write one, as librarians have appeared for other Boutiques like these:
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It’s all about the converters… Roland has trouble recreating their sound. Similar to older Alesis fx units, Ensoniq stuff, MPCs and SP1200s, etc., difficult to model in software apparently.
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You must have good ears because I certainly can’t hear any difference, at least not a difference that could matter much in a mix. But I’m not a JD-800 fan at heart, just someone who loves the idea of a portable synth. 
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Well it’s really about designing presets, even the original JD was a pain if you went beyond 1 layer as there is only 1 set of sliders, you could edit multiple layers at the same time which was great if you just had a few differences. But if you wanted radically different layers it became painful. The JD08 adds to that by also sharing envelope sliders on a single layer, so personally I wouldn’t really want to seriously design on it. Zenology is fantastic for design on the other hand as you can see all layer parameters and also supports multiple layer editing.
The usefulness of the JD-08 for me is really using those sounds in a hardware setup, but if they are not cross compatible then it becomes a waste of money really and could actually just even get a dedicated Zenology laptop for that price and stick with that. Using an editor involves using a Computer anyhow so might as well just use Zenology in that case.
Those editors look great and at a good price though, if I used DAWs more I’d buy a few of them.
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I am using a Keystep 37 with it for sequencing, and record that audio in Live, while i am sliding the sliders and twisiting the knobs. Having a good FX pedal like the Ventris with big realtime knobs, helps as well. I got an arsenal of other pedals as well, that i am utilizing. Those little loops in Live are then like idea givers and i add other elements track by track from either other JX08 noodles or from other synths. I am going to release an EP soon, where i used the JX in this way.
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If running Zenology presets on hardware is a high priority than the JD-08s physical controls, then getting hardware that actually appears on that support page would be a better choice than JD-08.
If you haven’t purchased the laptop yet, consider that the money for the laptop could go towards a Jupiter Xm or X, which is a piece of hardware that will load all the Model Expansions and Zen Core Sound Packs.
I have made the mistake before of buying hardware in hopes that a proven deficiency would be fixed by an update, and never seeing that update come.
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This is a very good point, sound design on the JD-08 must be pretty frustrating in practice. On that front, the JX-08 should be much more approachable as a sound design synth.
I don’t have the space or finances for another keyboard. I owned a JD-800 for a long time and so I’m interested in that specifically, the 101 doesn’t support the models. The JD-08 ticks all the boxes for me as long as it can load the JD-800 model presets, I don’t think that’s waiting for a miracle, it’s the exact same Zenology based code. It is actually more surprising that it wouldn’t support them to my mind. But Roland land is never simple.
If it doesn’t it doesn’t, as I said I’ll most likely be content with Zenology. It’s not that big a deal, just a bit disappointing but I’d just like to hear from someone who owns one for sure. I’ll get over it easily. 
It would be ironic if the virtual JD-800 turned out to have exactly the same presets as JD-08. We’ll see.
I took a look at the Jupiter X editor, which unlike Zenology, can interact in real time with the hardware. I’m glad I went for the 707 instead of Jupiter X/Xm - I would be wasting even more time auditioning presets and messing with sound design.
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I do expect to see a link for your EP friend, bc I think that the best way you can benchmark a synth is to actually use it in a real context and workflow, rather than doing small analysis and comparing on paper specs. No one wants a synth that sounds good only in demos.
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And demos don´t tell how it sounds under your hands. The man/woman behind the machine is always a big factor. Well i hope you enjoy ambient. 
I´ll post the link here, once it´s done.
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done deal my friend handshake and I enjoy ambient!
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after looking at the JX-08 midi implementation, I could see myself swapping my SFC-5 MK2 for a JX-08 as a VST controller alone, the synthesis would be a bonus.
But I am trying to do the no new gear 2022 thang, so perhaps 2023. Maybe when there are some on the used market. Tree-Fiddy would be an acceptable price.
I was also comparing it, on paper, vs a Nord Lead 2 rack. I think it compares quite well for what is effectively a V/A vs a V/A.
Advantages:
20 voices vs 16
Battery power & USB connectivity vs neither
2 FX vs none
Sequencer/arp vs arp only
LFO delay without the use of an additional modulator
Motion record as a modulator
$400 vs $650+
Disadvantages:
1 LFO vs 2
No third/mod envelope
No real FM.
2 “parts” vs 4
Less waveforms in the LFO
No drum kits
Less patch memory
Not as quick+easy+multiple destination Modwheel modulation
Other things that are a bit of a wash, filter modes, no chord memory on either…
I’m sure there are plenty more differences to note, but at the very least it’s killed my desire for an old Nord rack
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The better polyphony and dual parts definitely give these a different appeal than the original boutiques.
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Now if only we could get a JU-06A-MK2 with expanded polyphony😅
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and i’d be happy with just six voices like the original. in fact i’d hope even if more they’d give you the option to limit to six.
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There are 17 fx on Jx-08 my friend
…which can be edited with various parameters each…