I don't love writing checks. I've had lifetime subscriptions payoff... Media Monkey for example. I've also been robbed by people who just change the product name and say the new product is not the old product.

There are things I want and don't have. I could like Sonar more. It is largely sufficient to make my hobby fun though.

I chose to go with the lifetime thing because I could afford the gamble.

John
Cakewalk to my knowledge has never gone back on their word. 
 
  

Just going to point out that there were a number of upset people when they changed the date they clearly published in their marketing materials that a certain price would be available til.  Cakewalk didn't honor the original publication.
 
However, I'll point out that while I don't know the details of Cake's strategy.  I am one that has argued a number of points Craig made in the OP, even before he made this post.  
 
It would have been a lot easier to argue for doom and gloom if the lifetime updates was not also at the same time as the company making a strategic move to include a MAC product which says to anyone with half a brain, they are serious about staying competitive and moving forward in the market.  If I was doing the marketing, I would have made it more clear in the press release that Both versions will be available under one license, as I had to read through forum posts to get that information.   
 
I also noted, that a lifetime update model is certainly sustainable, and quite frankly already proven as long as you can draw new customers in, which is easier quite frankly when you offer things like Lifetime updates.  
 
Cake made a number of posts here early on that the long term plan was they were doing away with versions and this Artist, Professional, Producer was the future.  The outrage if they offered lifetime updates at a price then discontinued the product to move to basically the same DAW concept under a new name and told the user base they need to buy the new software from the ground up would devastate the company - so you can make a pretty strong bet that isn't going to happen.  

BRainbow
I love SONAR, even more now than I did in 1993 when I first started using Cakewalk for Windows 3.1, (after struggling with Master Tracks Pro).  Synced with my 8-track and then my TASCAM DA-88 (using some little weird gray box/interface), it was a dream come true after years of cramming "live" Ensoniq MIDI sequences and audio onto Sony "Sound-on-Sound" stereo reel-to-reels and cassette Porta-studios.  Then came the advent of recording digital audio with Cakewalk Pro Audio 4 on my Costco computer using my brand new stereo duplex (yes - 2 full tracks simultaneous playback and record) "Card D+."  And at that time I was blown away with the possibilities.
 
Now, ho hum, almost everybody's got an opinion on how and why and what Cakewalk should be doing.   But guess what -- IT IS MAGIC.  The current state of SONAR Platinum (I just paid less than a hundred bucks for a lifetime of it) is nothing short of astounding and I am very grateful to have this tool (and all the included mini-tools within it) at my disposal day and night for all my musical whims and fantasies.
 
A sincere 2+ decades of thanks to Mr. Hendershott and the whole TwelveTones/Cakewalk team, past and present, for the gift of their geek brain efforts.  My only complaint is that "Dan and Joey's Excellent June 1 Adventure" will probably never have a sequel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z34jFoCQCvg&feature=youtu.be&_bta_tid=3.TPY.CDxNig.CLbS.APKMIA..Ayyjmg.b..s.ASPJ.n...AnNu1A&_bta_c=eaznqkct7hlsol9h6iba6uj8et5g2
 
Aloha,
Bill

 
What he said! Thanks Cake!!!

Anderton
 
For those who really are musicians, just remember any time spent speculating without data is time that could have been spent making music.
 

 
Well stated and to the point Craig, your whole post. But the line I liked best is the one quoted above. 
 
In fact, I would say that for a musician who uses software or any other tools for that matter, any time spent speculating business matters even with all the data is futile unless one is a direct financial stakeholder. All that could be well spent making music and exploring the world as it is.
 
I use Sonar because I love the application, not because someone forced me too. One could buy all the software in the market and sit on a pile of 15 DAWs, 5,000 soft synths, 10,000 effect plugins, etc., if one could afford that financially. Who's stopping one from doing that ? So all this speculation is meaningless for a user who rather can stay focused on making the best of what's available right here, right now. After all, nobody knows whats going to happen tomorrow anyways. Its not rocket science to understand that when a lifetime commitment is provided for anything, its just the intent and sincerity that's expressed, which then relies on the trust of the buyers. Its one's choice to either trust or not. At the moment, I choose to trust Cakewalk based on my personal experience of the last 3 to 4 years of using Sonar right from X1 LE to the latest Platinum. If my experience hadn't been good, I could have gone for another DAW anytime anyways, no one stopped me. I stayed with Sonar because it got better and better in terms of the way I like to do things.
 
As far as the announcements go, clearly the #SONAR4Life and #SONAR4You are great news for me and I trust that the bakers will continue to enhance Sonar under the Windows platform. I was never inclined to go for a Mac computer anyways so #SONAR4Mac isn't anything exciting for me at the moment. Having said that, I can see it could be instrumental in widening the user base of Cakewalk which I am very happy about. And who knows, some day if I do decide to buy a Mac computer, I will have the version of my favorite DAW in that too. In fact, a Sonar Mac version could be the only reason why I may even consider buying a Mac.
 
All in all, it looks positive for me. Would be great if Cakewalk come up with a lite version for Android too, what with so many android users today and DAWs competing in that platform too. I for one would pounce on a Sonar android version if it was available. 

Brian Walton

John
Cakewalk to my knowledge has never gone back on their word. 
 
  

I would have made it more clear in the press release that Both versions will be available under one license, as I had to read through forum posts to get that information.   
 
 

What part of "free lifetime updates on all future versions of SONAR" confused you? That was stated in the offer email. It was (finally) darn clear to me that a Mac version was on the horizon. And since Mixbus, Studio One and Reaper all offer a single multi-platform license, I was sure CW would follow suit.

+1000
 
back to making music... will not visit the main threads again. This said it all...
 

Well said Craig.
 
I for one have never been treated badly by Sonar and have the highest regard for Sonar as a product and company.
 
Therefore when they say lifetime core updates I get that, appreciate it and purchased it when I saw how much they were asking in my account..
 
I do not need another soft synth or reverb bundled in a monthly update.
 
Thanks Cake

auto_da_fe
 
I do not need another soft synth or reverb bundled in a monthly update.
 

And the beauty is, for those that want it that option STILL exists too.

bapu

Brian Walton

John
Cakewalk to my knowledge has never gone back on their word. 
 
  

I would have made it more clear in the press release that Both versions will be available under one license, as I had to read through forum posts to get that information.   
 
 

What part of "free lifetime updates on all future versions of SONAR" confused you? That was stated in the offer email. It was (finally) darn clear to me that a Mac version was on the horizon. And since Mixbus, Studio One and Reaper all offer a single multi-platform license, I was sure CW would follow suit.

While it was my assumption, it was not an emphatic statement without possible loopholes in the announcement page (I never got an email, I just upgraded after the announcement).  
 
The following statements included things like this:

Are Lifetime Updates available only for SONAR Platinum?

Yes, currently, Lifetime Updates are only available if you buy, upgrade, or crossgrade to SONAR Platinum. Be sure that when you’re adding SONAR Platinum to your cart, you choose the product called “SONAR Platinum (with Lifetime Updates).”
 
As someone who has worked with a number of high end contracts, I can tell you what they put out in the marketing spread was no 100% guarantee they would offer users the ability to have both under the same license for life and could be used on different computers one at a time by the same user.  Yes, that would be my assumption, but it could easily be argued against by a lawyer.  Some of the posts by Cake employees cleared up the question though. 
 
The MAC version presented for alpha certainly does not have Platinum functionality (lack of 3rd party support), and they even seem to call it something else.  

SONAR OS X Alpha

.  Not everyone is as detailed as I am.  But my points are rational.  

"loopholes" "wormholes" "black holes"
 
Three things I couldn't care less about.