My experience is that without offline authorization, I'm stuck using Splat.

∞

I'm still using Splat for now, but purchased Samplitude in the event that the offline authorization option goes belly up.

I'm sticking with Platinum until the bandlab version offers a compelling reason (for me) to switch. It's still pretty much the same thing and still does everything I need it to. Too soon to assess the new ownership IMO. I think give it 12 months and that should give a more accurate picture of where it's at.
 
As for the competition, S1 has a few nice features, but I don't use it because I can't get used to the fugly UI / transport bar position and in my experience it's certainly not as crash free as the fanbois would have you believe. I was hoping that the recent much hyped update to v4 would make me try harder to overcome the fugliness or better still eradicate it, but no. I'd guess that even the super fans were a bit whelmed by it.
 
Cubase - Been there done that many years ago (SX3 IIRC) crashed all the time and support was awful so I don't feel inclined to go there again. It may be different now, but once bitten and all that......
 
The only others I've looked at are Samplitude, which again has its good points, big value at the recent offer prices, but it's like stepping back in time - desperately needs a UI update, Reaper - again some nice things, but the menu layouts are painful and Mixcraft I found it hard not to think of as a cartoon version of a DAW. I'm sure it works ok, but it just looks a bit like My First Daw (suitable for ages 4-12)
 
No doubt some will say that looks aren't important, the tools are, but when you spend a lot of time looking at something it helps a lot if the view isn't off-putting. Platinum with tungsten theme is still the best look/layout for me.

To all those talking about "offline authorization" you have three options:
1) Temporarily move your pc or laptop to a location with internet access or
2) Piggy back off your phone's or a friend's phone's internet to your pc or laptop
https://youtu.be/hDxQSedfoKM
or
3) Temporarily sign up for wireless internet and plug the WiFi receiver into your pc or laptop.

Matron Landslide
I think that BandLab not having the new forums up and running and concurrently not allowing new users to sign up and therefore seek help here might be a mistake, they should open the new forums ASAP and shut these ones down in my opinion.

 
Meng said there WILL be new forums and these old ones won't be shut down, but kept for legacy and archive. Since there will be new forums, I find it sensible not letting new users sign in here, to prevent them getting confused. They will sign in to the new ones only. Plus, at the moment, they CAN read here all the info.
 

Matron Landslide
Cakewalk/SONAR has, and have had a huge image problem outside these forums... a huge reputation problem, that is going to be tough to overcome... because it is a fact, pure and simple. SONAR has had a reputation outside... of being flaky, buggy, clunky, old and tired for a long time.

 
True. Indeed. And maybe this is what BandLab is trying to eradicate. Right now they are polishing the DAW to perfection with OUR help - the old users' help. We're the best at noticing old bugs, describing, etc AND still "emotionally attached" to the DAW (clever move - to exploit the feelings :) ).
 
When the DAW reaches an almost perfectly functioning state, that's when they will open the new forums, provide better description, marketing, etc.
 
And as time goes by and IF they keep that pace, that bad reputation will wane and maybe the opposite will start to happen. Everyone will adopt it because it will have a good reputation and at the same time cost nothing.
 
And that is the day BandLab will start charging for it: when it will have achieved good reputation and widespread adoption.

∞

Daibhidh
To all those talking about "offline authorization" you have three options:
1) Temporarily move your pc or laptop to a location with internet access or
2) Piggy back off your phone's or a friend's phone's internet to your pc or laptop
https://youtu.be/hDxQSedfoKM
or
3) Temporarily sign up for wireless internet and plug the WiFi receiver into your pc or laptop.

1) I'm not about to drag my desktop computer to someone else's place everytime I need to authorize cakewalk.
2) My cell phone provider has strict rules about piggy backing to a computer. They'll terminate my service.
3) I'm not going to sign up for wireless service, just so I can turn right around and cancel it. Seems like a waste of money.

I do appreciate your suggestions, but I'm going to stick with what I have.

Dupe

Edited typo and post disappears (again). 
 
Maybe bandlab should concentrate on the forum software first.