Am I seeing this right ? I just happened to notice that the lifetimes updates notice still shows up on the main page of Cakewalk.
Initially, I thought as its just two days after the deadline, they might have just not got around to remove that and could be just a matter of time.
 
But guess what, I click the "Buy Now" link and it now shows the deadline as December 31st, 2016 !!
I mean, what was the real point of having the August 31st, 2016 deadline ? I went for it due to repeated reminders that it would be the final date for availing the option and now its extended by 4 more months ? Why was it not extended much earlier, say a couple of weeks or a month back ? I had to advance any plans to expend the amount because of the deadline. If I knew, I could have waited for 4 more months !
 
How does this make any sense ? Could we assume that on January 01st, 2017, we could expect the deadline to move to say, April 30th, 2017 or something ? Or maybe the option to avail the lifetime updates could stay for a lifetime ?
 

One-time purchases made between June 1st and December 31st, 2016 include Lifetime Updates. This does not apply to monthly payments. Learn more
 
Yes this is what is showing on the product purchase page. I predicted this.
Windows 10 , however , didn't sustain their offer. It's now $150 and up.
 

I was right. I knew they wouldn't ditch this.
 
I would eventually like to know from Cakewalk the total amount of lifetime licenses.

Actually the original offer, which allowed a pro rated price reduction based on whether you had renewed, is gone and not coming back. This allowed many people to get lifetime updates for as little as $99. If you didn't grab it at that price, there's nothing you can do about it now.
 
However, Cakewalk received a lot of inquiries from people who didn't have the money, were on vacation, and in particular, budgeted money for holiday spending but not during the summer (Christmas bonuses etc.) and were asking if there might be some kind of special in the future. Given the response, and the holiday season being not that far away, you can still purchase Lifetime Updates - but ONLY at the full $199 price, regardless of whether you renewed or not, or any other circumstances. 

I was under the impression after the AUg 31 deadline, lifetime updates would then be offered at $199 upgrade, until further notice.  ...just that the "deal for some" is expiring at the end of August.

 
So it was a money grab.
 
It cost me full price, only 6 months after upgrading to Platinum.
 
I could have waited till the end of the year for no extra cost.
 
Can I have a refund ?
 
 

Paul P
 
So it was a money grab.
 
It cost me full price, only 6 months after upgrading to Platinum.
 
I could have waited till the end of the year for no extra cost.
 
Can I have a refund ?
 
 

I believe the original deal was offered to those that had Platinum for the last year or so.  Not newer purchasers.  Kind of a "thank you" to those that jumped on the SPlat upgrade when it first came out.

mixmkr
I believe the original deal was offered to those that had Platinum for the last year or so.  Not newer purchasers.  Kind of a "thank you" to those that jumped on the SPlat upgrade when it first came out.

"Act now! Lifetime Updates are available for purchase only until August 31st, 2016."
 

seems you cut out only one sentence.  what were the restrictions?

Yup - the deal that had been there was to be able to obtain the lifetime updates at a particular reduced price.  Lifetime updates ARE still available, and is still A deal, but for a still reduced price of $199 usd until Dec 31.  
 
I would presume that if lifetime updates remain something that can be purchased, that the price would likely go up to something higher than the still discounted $199, come Jan 1, 2017.
 
It was a fantastic deal, remains a great deal, and will likely still make sense to those who come to it after Jan 1, but will be obviously not as sweet as the original offer - now past - or than the current $199.  
 
Even at $199, it's basically paying for a one-year annual cost, then getting the rest of time's worth of updates for nothing.
 
So, nobody got snookered, or is going to - they have a good offer at a great price STILL, trying to accommodate folks who needed more time to come up with the budget to afford it.  I have seen them do things like that for individuals before, who didn't get paid til two days after some individual product came off of being on sale, but to offer the lifetime deal at $199 to try to help as many get on board as possible for several more months is downright cool of them.
 
Bob Bone