Maybe those of you that are passionate about these things can volunteer your coding services to help improve those things. I got an email today from the brass stating that the re-up for a new SPlat year is $119 now until April 22. This is why you might consider a volunteer offering.

williamcopper
In order to put the output tracks of an inserted synth up near where the midi tracks are located, I put them into a folder; ready to take the folder and move all the tracks at once up where they should be.    Click close folder?   Presto, the screen pops up to the top, so I have to scroll all the way to the bottom again to grab the folder.

 
When I close a folder, it stays wherever it was. Your description of what you are doing is sufficiently opaque I have no idea how to reproduce your issue, which means I can't tell you how to solve it. Meanwhile, the rest of your problems are generally attributable to a lack of knowledge.
 
 

Starting new projects, I uncheck "reset controllers to zero"   Over ... and over .. and over ... and over.    

 
First of all, there is no "reset controllers to zero" option. Assuming what you actually mean is "Zero Controllers When Play Stops," you say you're opening a New project. This calls up your Normal template, which must have "Zero Controllers When Play Stops" enabled. So disable it, then save the project you just opened as your Normal template. Now when you open a new project, "Zero Controllers When Play Stops" will be disabled. Simple.
 
[I just saw Robert gave the same solution. Frankly, I find it beyond illogical to consider a program that lets you define the characteristics when you open a project to be a "workaround." Initial preferences are chosen that, in the judgement of the programmers, will be of the greatest usefulness to the greatest number of people. If a particular preference isn't what you want, you can change it and most preference settings persist...assuming you know how to save a Template. To assume EVERYONE wants the same preference as you, and that therefore having to choose a different preference is a "workaround," is absurd.]
 

Open a project folder in a directory with hundreds of entries?   Does sonar remember where the last entry was, the way Sound Forge does?  No, you have to scroll all the way down again every time.

 
Yes, it does. Maybe you're not aware that like Sound Forge, SONAR maintains a recent list of files...
 

 
Or maybe you're not aware that the Start Screen maintains a list of files, as well as the ability to pin ones you want to keep to the top...
 

 
Or maybe you're not aware that Windows can sort files by a variety of criteria...
 

 
Or maybe you're so poor at file and folder organization you have to scroll through hundreds of projects to find the ones you want, which would be solved by organizing your work properly even if the above options didn't exist. It reminds of how you complain about losing "hours and hours of work" because for whatever reason, you fail to save a project periodically. 
 

Trying to work with Sonar and Vegas Pro at the same time: I answer a dialog about missing midi .. Over ... and over ... and over ... and over.     All these things are shoddy and careless programming.

 
Windows 7 does not have multi-client MIDI, which was introduced in Windows 10. Realistically, it's not Microsoft's fault you choose not to avail yourself of a solution. 
 

Opening multiple tracks in prv, I close controller channels in the abominable controller pain, Over and over .. and over .. and over.

 
I've already explained to you the benefits of using the Track View PRV when doing extensive work with controllers, and the dockable PRV when doing extensive work with notes. (And yes, you can draw in the Track View PRV as well as do "rubber band"-style automation. Let me know if you can't figure that out, and I'll walk you through it.) I recommend using the right tool for the right job.
 

O yeah, keeping this window open while trying to add synths and instruments.    "Insert Soft Synth" ... I uncheck "Enable Midi Output".     Over .. and over ... and over .. .and over   and over.

 
I can't test this out right now to confirm 100%, but IIRC if you don't want to do that, uncheck "Enable MIDI Output," and uncheck "Ask This Every Time." Now your synthesizer will open up without the dialog box and without MIDI output enabled. If you want to change those defaults, open Insert Synth Options and make your changes (like "All Stereo Outputs" or whatever), then open your instrument. Now you'll have all stereo outputs, and still no MIDI Output enabled.
 

It's not just these two, it is everywhere and all the time.

 
 
Your love of hyperbole is duly noted. But with all due respect, if you spent the same amount of time learning your tools that you spend complaining about them, I think you'd be much more productive. A viable option is to use simpler tools.
 

Whatever!    I haven't committed to Cubase yet because of visual issues, and because I have a big treasure of CAL scripts that work wonders very fast.    
 
I know, I know .. sounds like I'm just hitting out at CW.  But what I really would like is very simple, a better program, with elegant solutions that are well-thought-through and that work easily. 

Anderton
Yes, it does. Maybe you're not aware that like Sound Forge, SONAR maintains a recent list of files...

sigh.  re-read what I said:  it's the DIRECTORY structure that Sonar flubs on. 
 
 
 

Anderton
When I close a folder, it stays wherever it was. Your description of what you are doing is sufficiently opaque I have no idea how to reproduce your issue, which means I can't tell you how to solve it. Meanwhile, the rest of your problems are generally attributable to a lack of knowledge.

 
Are you really sure?    Or rather, yes, what you say is true, the FOLDER stays where it was.  But the SCREEN pops so that the first track is at the top, and the FOLDER, down there at #188 is still down there.  The problem is, you have to scroll to get back to it. 

bitman
you might make a volunteer offering

I already made my volunteer offering.   True, just in the hopes that improvements might come along.

Anderton
 
I can't test this out right now to confirm 100%, but IIRC if you don't want to do that, uncheck "Enable MIDI Output," and uncheck "Ask This Every Time." Now your synthesizer will open up without the dialog box and without MIDI output enabled. If you want to change those defaults, open Insert Synth Options and make your changes (like "All Stereo Outputs" or whatever), then open your instrument. Now you'll have all stereo outputs, and still no MIDI Output enabled.
 

You might want to test this out.   Nope, doesn't work.

Anderton
 
Windows 7 does not have multi-client MIDI, which was introduced in Windows 10. Realistically, it's not Microsoft's fault you choose not to avail yourself of a solution. 

Then why is it that on Windows 7, Vegas Pro is quiet and calm about this issue, while Sonar gives me the same message every 60 seconds on the minute? 

Anderton
 
 
Your love of hyperbole is duly noted. But with all due respect, if you spent the same amount of time learning your tools that you spend complaining about them, I think you'd be much more productive. A viable option is to use simpler tools.
 
 

I cannot agree more with this. This is and will (probably) be the last post I write in a WC thread. It has nothing to do with the issues he presents, but solely to the way "questions" are asked. I will not try to "answer" his questions, as EVERYONE else has got it wrong. 
I would think a "guru" of "all things" should be able to correct any errors made by himself. And when you put guru in your specs, you should / would expect a different kind of answers than a person trying to get help for something he / she cannot figure out for themselves (as mere mortals).
Over and out

As to focus: here's a screen shot, sorry it's a big image, three screens.   Can you tell, Craig, which window has focus, and if it's the track view, upper left, which track has focus?    No.