While I still enjoy P5 ( even more than SonarHS6 ), I've found that Fruity Loops offers a very similar pattern workflow approach, interesting VST's, automation envelopes, multi-core support, etc. Forum support is active. It doesn't have the active pattern matrix of P5 though. I'm still playing with both of them as they have unique strengths. The piano roll is better in FL ( native support of chords and scales, etc) and there's a native step sequencer for the quick and dirty stuff. Exchanging rendered audio loops works pretty well. I've only tried VSTi linking them a couple times so far, but that appears to be the best of both worlds to generate something to send to Sonar for final mixdowns. So, now the dilemma. Is this winter's budget for the Sonar8 upgrade or more interesting VST's ( see the 'Its Alive!!! thread) ?

Pluto2, if you are looking for a replacement to P5, the closest thing is still Ableton Live. It is not as elegant with VSTs and midi like P5, but it can certainly do most if not all of the things that P5 offers. Moreover, Live is lightyears ahead in audio looping, stretching and mangling, and is a capable DAW in most respects. The Session View may even be more robust than the Groove Matrix, IMHO. Live 8 should be coming out soon, and maybe it will pick up some of the P5 workflow. Unfortunately it is a costly piece of software and the .0 versions are usually a little flakey, but Ableton jumps in there and get's things squared away rather quickly.

I have never really tried ableton maybe I should do so, always intersesting to try something new. Does it have the pattern like workflow of P5?