Didnt know this. Your right. We're in an age where everyone links all their products to computers unbeknownst that some people want to avoid them when making music. For something that simple, that should be allowed.
As for the 16 samples, thats a pretty good limitation otherwise you'd buy an MPC. Some limits are good. I've worked on MPC's for years and got lost in the isles like a Mega-Walmart. 16 samples are enough, then you work around like, changing a scene to change a sample, or record a 4 bar loop (2 bars/2 bars) the first 2 bars are one loop, the other 2 are another loop. Then Slice and switch back and forth in patterns.
Or, grab an MPC 2500.
With an octatrack, I have unlimited access to every sample on my card at any given time, its like having a billion bullets and 1 gun. Gonna take some time to load up, you know.