Every forum has an OCD @ss in it, apparently it's a prerequisite...

Doktor Avalanche
The model could have worked brilliantly if the bug backlog from X3E to X1 (and far far earlier from what I understand) were mostly resolved, or this was a brand new product, sadly there is too crap from past history to clear up... And effectively ignoring most of this is building up a house with flimsy foundations that will eventually fall over ....please remember what I wrote here in case it happens.
 
Also if there are to be no periodic/regular feature freezes/stability releases, then those of us who don't want to be, will just be condemned to a beta testing roller coaster ride... Rolling backwards or forwards (if able) to whatever middle ground we might be able to cope with. This profile of customer (who is just looking for stability) will eventually pack their bags imho.
 
I don't particularly like writing this, but that's the truth as I see it. Sorry...

In defense of the Good Doktor and the other 'negative nannies' in this thread, don't you get that we are trying to make Sonar better. I have 40 years of experience in developing hardware and software applications and IIRC, the Doktor has dev experience as well.
If I did not think that Sonar has tremendous potential, I would not even take the time to comment here.
Listen to the Dok's quote about a foundation. This is simply the way it works. PR and a positive attitude will not solve the issues at hand. I have seen companies/products go under from ignoring the realities.
Take ANYTHING sales/PR tells you from ANY company with a very large grain of salt. Even when you really, really, like/need their product.
There is an inherent tension, a competition, inside every company between sales/marketing and product development. To succeed, there needs to be a balance between these. In my opinion, after the Gibson acquisition, Cakewalk swung too far to the S/M side. I am(and others are) simply trying to restore a proper balance.
 

IMHO the subscription model is a big step in the right direction, and although I have no access to inside information, I strongly suspect that CW is allocating their manpower and resources in such a way as to fix what needs fixing ASAP while at the same time rolling out new features to satisfy market demand and remain competitive.
 
I'm perfectly willing to sit back and enjoy the ride. The view gets better all the time.

Lots of us on here are or were developers with years of experience. I respect your opinion and you've made some telling points in this thread, as has the Dok. My comments refer to the more negative, and more importantly, less helpful posts here. If you thought otherwise, accept my apologies.
 
No developer likes to ship software with defects, but a company cannot survive if it doesn't ship software, so a line must be drawn where everyone accepts that it is what it is and the software gets shipped. Likewise, a company that can only sell to the existing customer base will die. New features are vital to the life of a product.
 
We can argue about the balance, but the fact that there is one tells me that they're on the right path.

I think this years fixes alone are worth the subscription, let alone all the new goodies we get.
I would have updated each year, or every other year anyway.
A great product! I will keep supporting it.
 

This is the thing. There's been a long-ass list of fixes every month all year. If there wasn't, then it might be worth making a fuss about that. But it's just not the case.
 

I consider the subscription model (AKA, software "rent to own") model a brilliant success.  I love the payment option, Cleverbridges management of said payments, the updates, and the extremely helpful monthly newsletter.  I am a weekend warrior who never would have progressed the way I have without these perks (or without this forum).  I will be with Splat for the long haul!

One lingering gripe for me - 
 
I've been a Cakewalk user since it showed up on 3.5" floppies.
Been a a participant in most versions since it became "Sonar".
 
But - 
Even though I've signed up several times over the last several years, I STILL can't seem to get on the distribution list for the the Cakewalk Newsletter!!  
 
But concerning the software & current subscription model - 
Works for me!! 

the balance of the three (development, sales and marketing) is where a company remains solvent. it is not people's comments in their respective areas of expertise that is tiresome to me but the evaluation of the company as a whole; e.g. the posting of what if scenarios based on insider information about a company that no one here but the employees have insight into. the so called doomsayer position; that if cakewalk doesn't amend this position they will fail or if they had only done this when... etc. hindsight analysis is useful but to imagine that a company that continues to remain solvent doesn't review past decisions is silly. we are all on the outside looking in. i'm certainly not directing this post at anyone on the forum just expounding on what i find tiresome. must admit though it was much more tiresome during the move from 8.5 to x1 than it is now. please those that have expertise in software development continue to take the time to post your opinions. 

I'm doing great! (on 8.5 - Mr. Irrelevant strikes again).