Check out Squarepusher, who has been doing this for years, but using an actual bass guitar with MIDIfied pickups to drive the stack of synths (in addition to being a sound source in its own right). Or if you want total eye candy, Jean Michelle-Jarre likes to control a wall of synths with a laser harp.
That said, I have no problem with keyboardists or knob-twiddling...perhaps because I'm not especially moved by stage theatrics or arena-size performance.
Interesting historical note: it was someone much further from electronica that originally popularized MIDI bass: Phil Lesh, of The Grateful Dead, while Tom Jenkinson (Squarepusher) was still a kid.
Some say that Tom learned his trade from Richard and then became the true electronic music master. I love how he incorporates bass into electronic music. Just excellent.
That said, I have no problem with keyboardists or knob-twiddling...perhaps because I'm not especially moved by stage theatrics or arena-size performance.