I started out with the ts480, and now have the ts590.  No, most of 
the buttens help me navagate the radio, and with the ts590, you can 
read swr and alc  and power.  frequencies, where your agc,and other 
filters speek, and menus also speek enough even without computers 
hooked up to the radio to get it set up and running fine.
I have really enjoyed the radios, although the ts590 talks the swr 
and has a manual notch filter and a few more bells and whistles.  But 
if I had to keep the ts480, it would be a wonderful rig.
This is just my oppinion though.
Mike

KD2CDU.