I think any MIDI tool is super for a person trying to get into any style of music because it helps you learn very fast. The pads on the Akai are superb imo and for the price almost unbeatable. The portability of it is its outstanding feature imo and as you said its great, just take a laptop, plug keyboard in, sit down and jam.
As for the guitar to bass thing, its very true. I learned a long time ago that my phone was an invaluable tool so now when I get an idea I just turn voice recorder on, hum the tune and let it go. I have a trove of garbage on my voice recorder I probably will never get to haha but its there.
Oh forgot to add, if anyone wants to drumkits DM me.