OK, this was my exact issue at first because that is one of the best features in FL Studio; the ability to lay down drum patterns and have them separated on different patterns. If I'm reading your post correctly. In Sonar, it can be done as well. You can use Session Drummer or if you have some other drum sampler. Load kit or samples into Session Drummer or Drum sampler of choice, activate step sequencer, draw out kick/snare pattern. Now here's the trick, in the top right corner of Session Drummer or Drum sampler of choice screen, there is an icon to activate step seq. each time you select the step seq icon it resets the pattern and you can add another sound; such as; hats, toms..etc. Now they will be on one track until you select the take lane icon and then all the different patterns will be displayed. I'm replying to this post at work, LOL, but when I can the chance, I will upload pics of the icons I am talking about in case you don't know where they are. The steps are really easy once you get the hang of it and could actually be more powerful and intuitive then Fl's step seq.

BTW, there are videos on you tube with Seth called Sonar: Master class - Drum Production, where he goes over some of the techniques I have describe. The only difference is in the video he mentions track layers but this has been changed to take lanes but it works pretty much the same.   

That's a great tip! Looking forward to experimenting with that the coming week. Not sure which icon you mean but I'm sure I can find it!

BiggEastwood
BTW, there are videos on you tube with Seth called Sonar: Master class - Drum Production, where he goes over some of the techniques I have describe. The only difference is in the video he mentions track layers but this has been changed to take lanes but it works pretty much the same.   

 
(Part 3) SONAR: Master Class - Drum Production Episode I    secret weapon starts at 5:05.
 
Thanks for the tip.  I just followed along with the video in Platinum.  The lastest sequence always goes into Lane T1 (as with layers) and the clip has to be move to another newly created lane to get it out of the way for the next sequence into T1.  You (can) end up with a single instrument per lane which can then be collapsed down to the track.
 
This merits further exploration.