I actually think the storage makes sense for this kind of device. If people had tons of storage space they would be less likely to use the lofi sample rates. That basically steers the user towards the device’s aesthetic. People will basically have to use the lower rates. Also, it means you won’t be installing tons of samples on it, which, as pointed out, means a high-end display isn’t needed, and will again steer the user in a certain direction.
When I took a Japanese art class back in the day, I remember the professor telling us about how the paths through the Japanese gardens are designed to be uneven and spaced in a way that basically forces the person going through it to slow down. They aren’t designed for people to power walk through them. I think the amount of space you get with this device will ensure people are using it in a certain way that fits how the developer envisioned the device. They could have opted to put the money into more space instead of other features, but they didn’t, and I think it was a choice. You may not agree with the choice, but the choices are what make the machine what it is and the constraints will push people to interact with it a certain way. For a budget device, I’d personally rather have something interesting than a jack-of-all trades that is just a watered down version of some more expensive device.
Again, it’s a device that pays homage to old school samplers with killer features (robust sequencer, effects, synthesis), and modern upgrades like class compliant USB and rechargeable battery. It’s not like they stuck to what you would get in 1983 for everything. Is it perfect? No. Is it interesting? I think so.