I fall under the category of playing guitar since I was 7 years old and never really trying a keyboard until it became my input device for midi in 1984. So I wasn't really trying to play the "piano" so much as get my fingers to cooperate and know where the notes were. 
Of course a lot of input was drums.  I was make all my own backing tracks so a single note bass line is a big part of what I do.
So formal lessons were useless for the way I wanted to play.  After all, we are not just trying to record keyboard parts, but a lot of other instruments are involved.  And site reading while useful is not really needed by those of us who have a good ear for a tune. I have learned to site read over and over but I never get real good at it because I end up using it only as a reference and then my ear takes over. 
 So I took Music Theory which was the best thing I ever did musically in my life. You don't have to play an instrument to study Music Theory.
The chops come with practice. I know what to do, I just need to practice it so that you make that connection. Drums are the same for me too.. just play and concentrate. 
I pretty happy with what I can play on my keyboard these days. And I'll say that's the combination of knowing the theory and practicing parts.