Myth one. CW will screw us at a future date and drop Platinum. Reality. There is no evidence for this. Even if they did it would not void the lifetime updates. 
 
Myth Two. They will reduce the add on to Platinum. Reality. What now comes with Platinum will continue to be a part of the Platinum package. 
 
Myth three. Only the "core" program will be subject to the lifetime offer. Reality. "Core" program was/is a poor choice of words and is somewhat responsible for the confusion. Platinum comes with a bunch of Pro Channel modules it does not come with some others like Concrete Limiter. This is going to be the same under lifetime updates. CW may developed new plugins that maybe an extra cost for the user if they want them. This is no different from the way it is now. 
 
Myth four. Cakewalk is low on funds and needs to inject more revenue into it. That why this offer is up. Reality. No. First there is no way anyone here has the financial report of CW to refer to. Second this would do just the opposite as far as being a funding stream over time. Let us look at this as it is, an offer to reward loyal users. What is so hard in accepting that?  

 

John
Myth one. CW will screw us at a future date and drop Platinum. Reality. There is no evidence for this. Even if they did it would not void the lifetime updates. 
 
Myth Two. They will reduce the add on to Platinum. Reality. What now comes with Platinum will continue to be a part of the Platinum package. 
 
Myth three. Only the "core" program will be subject to the lifetime offer. Reality. "Core" program was/is a poor choice of words and is somewhat responsible for the confusion. Platinum comes with a bunch of Pro Channel modules it does not come with some others like Concrete Limiter. This is going to be the same under lifetime updates. CW may developed new plugins that maybe an extra cost for the user if they want them. This is no different from the way it is now. 
 
Myth four. Cakewalk is low on funds and needs to inject more revenue into it. That why this offer is up. Reality. No. First there is no way anyone here has the financial report of CW to refer to. Second this would do just the opposite as far as being a funding stream over time. Let us look at this as it is, an offer to reward loyal users. What is so hard in accepting that?  

 
+1 on all points.
 
This is what I understand as well. I am simply unable to understand why many are creating a differentiation between what will be offered for monthly/annual and that for lifetime updates when Cakewalk has explicitly stated that they will all be the same. Moreover, all the content including add-ons, enhanced features and tools, etc., that are integrated within Sonar will have to be part of the included updates for all the membership options irrespective and will not be separated as payable. What will be separate as payable will only be those that are already the case, like Rapture Pro, additional Prochannel modules, additional expansion packs, TH3 Producer, Melodyne higher versions like editor, etc.
 
Someone from Cakewalk correct me if what I understand as above is wrong. Because if it is, its important to know that now.

Hay John I still don't get it,
I have had sonar since version 5 and upgraded every time So I now have sonar platinum, but in my account it says my membership has expired in march, what membership! this it what I don't get (I don't do the subscription thing), I purchased sonar and then just upgrade each year, so why would I have an expired membership ?
 
Also when it refers to lifetime updates for platinum users am I to presumed I am paid up, or will I will have to pay for this next upgrade at this higher cost its showing (from what I think I understand) but their after All upgrades and updates are free , I don't fully understand all this cakewalk hype its not very clear to me as I don't follow cakewalk forums very often apart from the yearly upgrade time  ? 
 
I currently have Newbury and the other day cakewalk manager said it was updating, it downloaded and updated automatically, yet when I open sonar platinum up it still says Newbury 2.13.0.32, and I see none of the updated features, functions etc. Is this because Of what I wrote in paragraph 1 
 
 
Is their also another thread that explains this, instead of this encrypted jargon cakewalk advertise.
 
Thanks in advance for any advice.

Totally agree! I wish a CW person would drop in and deal with these things now. 

I'm good with all except Myth 1 - and honestly, this is the first time in a bunch of years on the forums that I've been bothered enough to take it up.  As a concept I like this approach of updating the core and having a DLC model for peripheral adds.
 
You say 'Even if they did it would not void the lifetime updates', but forgive me if I don't follow the logic.  A 'lifetime update' will have limits or at least a definition of the product to which it applies, and in my case that's what I'd like to understand.
 
Scenario 1: Sonar Platinum retains it's name indefinitely (it becomes Logic or ProTools) with the only difference being version numbers.  Does Lifetime in that case continue through all major and point releases - probably yes.
 
Scenario 2: SPLAT changes to SGOLD or something distinctly different. Does Lifetime in that case continue through all major and point releases of those subsequent product lines - I really don't know.
 
Scenario 3: SPLAT is withdrawn as a product altogether, or gets sold off.  At that point the lifetime question is largely irrelevant so I'm not too concerned.

This same thing happened with Fruity Loops some years back. It is now called FL Studio. However the lifetime updates still applies. Further a name change in and by itself is not going impact a contract made in good faith by a person with another. In fact it may be prohibited as a means of voiding a contract. At the very least it would open CW up to a slew of law suites.   
 

Hmmmmmm.... First off, I don't like the term " myth". You could have replaced it with "question" and not been so dirogitory. 
Next, is there some reason to believe that you have any more answers than others in the forum? You are not an employee of Cakewalk I assume.
As to your points
1. I agree it is unlikely.
2. I don't recall seeing anyone suggesting  content would be taken away, just no new added content would be provided. I think that is likely.
3. I believe Cakewalk when they state "Core". My interpretation is that "Core" refers to the engine all three models(Platinum, Professional, Artist) use. In fact, all nine new enhancements in the rolling updates are for all models. So, while you get to keep Drum Replacer etc. do not expect unpaid updates to them.
4. As you stated, we do not know Cakewalk's financials. That also assumes we don't know if they are in financial difficulty. As to the " offer to reward loyal customers" this is only true as part of a financial plan. Having been technical support for sales and marketing for a high tech firm for 20 years, I assure you that in all  the countless sales meetings just rewarding customers never entered anyone's mind. The meetings centered around making money . Usually by either reducing costs or raising revenues. I am confident that this "reward" fits into the latter category.
 
Still, I find the offer for lifetime core improvements to be compelling. I will be taking Cakewalk up on the offer.
 
 

John
Myth four. Cakewalk is low on funds and needs to inject more revenue into it. That why this offer is up. Reality. No. First there is no way anyone here has the financial report of CW to refer to. Second this would do just the opposite as far as being a funding stream over time. Let us look at this as it is, an offer to reward loyal users. What is so hard in accepting that?

Since you have not seen the financial report of CW either, on question either CW is low on fonds, the answer "No" is an equal myth to the answer "Yes"
 
The reality is what we know for sure:
1) CW has collected extra money from loyal users (which otherwise had no plans to pay for Sonar next 8 month)
2) (1) money could be collected in 8 month (with or without life-time approach)
3) CW will collect extra money from thous who want to jump into endless running train
4) all these money can be collected only once
5) Mac development was announced simultaneously with that life-time offer
 
Logical conclusion is they want to spend money now to speedup the development of changes and Mac version. In hope go get the revenue from the result (which was also clearly confirmed). That does not means they are low on funds and that does look like a manageable business model. But that is not a gift nor "reward".

Your using a fallacious argument. The point is not what funding is available to CW but rather no user here knows what is the state of CW funding.  That is why no is the right answer. Its a speculation not a fact that CW is low on funds.    
 
Edit to add this.
 
Put this another way the no means speculating on something no one knows anything about is fallacious in the extrema and unworthy of consideration.    

I think a forum host should lock this thread before it gets ugly.