Ok Since I'm Here...

Just upgraded to X3 due to loyalty invitation.  Thanks.  I haven't really had a chance to try out any of the new features except the comping feature which was quite helpful and worth the upgrade.  I'm looking forward learning to use to the rest of the new features.
But since I am a avid user of the OLD features of Sonar like Staff View, I was quite disappointed to see that the same bugs that existed since X1 (which didn't exist Sonar 8.5) still exist in X3.  I'm talking about the jumbled font when adding a chord to the staff, and the quagmire you can run into if you add lyrics and chords to a melody line with multiple clips. 
 
Yes, I've learned to work around the problem, and I understand it must be very, very, very low on your priority list.  But how difficult could these fixes be since they didn't exist in 8.5 and staff view hasn't changed much if at all since the inception of Sonar?
 
Not going to go into a long rant.  I've learned to accept by now that you just don't care, but that really is disappointing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none
 
At some point in time the programmers at Cakewalk should have removed a few features and focused on making the most desired features bullet proof. 
If each of us sat down and made a grocery list of features we would like in a DAW, there would be no two lists that were alike. 
I can only imagine  they have to sit there and look at those lists and figure out what will "sell". They are paid to do this. It would seem the squeaky wheel does get the grease around here and the Bakers seem to pay attention to all the squeaking here on this forum.
But personally I think Sonar tries to cover too much ground. As a result they get the software out there before it's been tested in depth. It's a balancing act. Profit won't come to a software company that does not move forward. You want a steady stream of customers. But you need to be careful or word will get out that your product is buggy and to be avoided. 
That's why possibly 8.5 was the best of that series, they had had over a decade to perfect it.
The X Series will now have to mature as well.
 
 

I'm saying they don't care about staff view.  It's obvious they're interested in making money, and the frequent patches for X3 are encouraging (in terms of their responsiveness to NEW problems). The changes they made from 8.5 to X1, however, brought about these problems I mentioned with staff view.  I'm not a programmer, but I have run businesses.  If I broke something that my customers relied on, I would get around to fixing it.  3 paid upgrades later and countless patches, its still not fixed. I'm not willing to give them a pass on this.
 
For those of us who have been with the program for a while might remember that Cakewalk was a midi sequencer first, and staff view was quite the revelation at the time.  For a songwriter using Sonar, the tool is nearly indispensable since I don't own or play every instrument in my songs, and I rarely use paper.  When I solo with a particular melodic line or write an accompaniment, it is nice to be able to see the chord and the melody. 
 
Maybe I'm the lone voice in the wilderness, but if you check my threads, staff view is basically the only thing I've complained about with this software since I started using the forum.  I will continue to complain until they bring it at least to the past functionality or perhaps spin off into a Songwriter series that focuses on songwriting and scoring with recording.  Then I will gladly go with them in that direction.  I do appreciate the new features. I'm simply asking for the functionality I paid for a long time ago.
 
 

There's always room for improvement with any product and we are definitely listening. I just wanted to reply to you directly to say we have read your post and appreciate your feedback. We are working hard to improve SONAR and we understand your concerns.

Good point, is the OP running X3E? (please update your signature thanks).

It's not often Cakewalk make an appearance in staff view threads, so that's definitely encouraging. I'm not saying X4-encouraging, but encouraging nonetheless!