Gimmick or innovation?http://mybeatbuddy.com/

Gotta bend down to change drum pattern in between songs.. I would prefer a drum machine placed on a stand with pedal switch.

I wonderb if there is a tap system to avoid that.

I like the way the patterns are setup. If you look at the 3rd video, you can actually use another foot switch to scroll through the patterns. If all songs are planned out in advanced, one hardly needs to bend down to change any setting (tempo). It seems all good to go! 
 
Still, I'll love the idea of a future table top version - I like to be able to re use a few generic patterns so that I can simply change the tempo for another song (which it can be done currently - just need to bend down for the tempo change), with speed dial, etc. Or making it with more buttons/pads so one can programmed it on the go.

Interesting. Some of what it does can be done with an SR16 plus a couple of momentary foot-switches - tempo, pattern change within a block of four patterns and stop/start, but the Beatbuddy looks like it will expand on that in a useful way.

I'd prefer it as a foot-controlled tabletop unit though.

Ok, so in 1983 I bought a Roland 505, It did what that stupid thing does more or less but sounded like cardboard boxes and tin pans. But, it was so easy to program and start stop etc. I could hold about 5 sequenced songs. 
Down the road drum machines got fancier and fancier with foot switch controlled pattern changes and fills etc. The sounds also slowly improved ( matter of opinion) 
But they were made for solo musicians to be played live and with minimum fuss. 
Jump to the 90's and they started fading away as we switched to full on sequencers that played whole songs using a  whack of midi sound modules and instruments. Drum machines even stopped including foot switch control by the end of that decade.  ( example Dr Rhythm) 
Then in the 2000 weirdo's started actually looking for the drum machines from the 80"s the ones that sounded like cardboard and tin pans,,,, go figure,, but this was a "new" sound right. 
So now you guys are looking for foot controlled drum machines again? I hope this is not  like for normal music and your in some kind of hip hop , DJ gig. You already own a drum machine, it's called Sonar. And you can control it with a foot switch. 
 
http://xkeys.com/XkeysFootPedals/index.php
 

This thing would be useless to someone in a hip-hop dj gig. I don't think anyone in this thread indicated they were looking for something like this anyway. This is clearly aimed at guitarist that need simple accompanying drums in a pedal form.

Foot controlled drum machines are very useful in any genre.

Unlike most sequencers it's very simple to change patterns as required to accommodate improvisation or simply work round errors. In a live framework you need controls to be simple, especially if you are playing another instrument, because complexity leads to errors or having to spend more concentration on switching things than playing.

As for hip hop, etc., I fail to see what the genre has to do with anything. All kinds of musicians use sequencing, drum machines etc. for all kinds of purposes just as they use anything useful to them.

I think what the Monkey was saying is all of a sudden there was a re interest in old drum machines. For a while they became door stops as computer took over with sequencing. Then a new type of music was born and it embraced the  sounds of those old analog drummers. 
 
You don't see solo performers using drum machines anymore really. I did a few years my self back in the 80's, but computers gave us a lot more features and the ability to have the bass and other instruments as well. 
I still use my drum machine for grabbing a quick beat on a new song. It's a great little tool that has lasted 30 years now.
That pedal looks OK but I would rather something in reach with the pedal as an extension to stop start.