I am in a similar boat as the OP. My needs are fairly simple, and after dealing with time investments from "installation overhead," I stopped installing updates at Cambridge. I set a calendar reminder to download the updates each month since I cannot see a clear "rollback" path, and each month only shows the "newest" version in my account.
 
For things that I do, there is nothing in Platinum that I cannot do in X3.
 

I think heavy MIDI users benefit more from Platinum. MIDI engine has definitely improved, and some annoying MIDI event issues (events' MIDI channels unnecessarily change by simply bouncing the clip, the last controller data in the clip gets hidden from the view by simply moving the clip, etc.) were fixed. I no longer have to worry about these issues. Oh, and don't forget the Smart Mute/Solo drum map functionality.

New feature set that would make me install new version: 
* customizable Control Bar and FX Bin text colors
* floating empty MultiDock bar (to keep it on the 2nd display all the time)
* Optional1: support PNG images as track/bus icons.
* Optional2: Project report tools to extract track listing, used effects etc. as XML document
* Optional3: Improved Open Safe mode to list all used plugins and let user select/deselect them from a list rather than one by one.
* Alternatively: If SonarMods finishes Duckbar's Platinum compatiblity. But wait, that's my job... And now I haven't enough time to do that.
 
Little things, especially three first ones.

panup
New feature set that would make me install new version: 
* customizable Control Bar and FX Bin text colors
* floating empty MultiDock bar (to keep it on the 2nd display all the time)
* Optional1: support PNG images as track/bus icons.
* Optional2: Project report tools to extract track listing, used effects etc. as XML document
* Optional3: Improved Open Safe mode to list all used plugins and let user select/deselect them from a list rather than one by one.
* Alternatively: If SonarMods finishes Duckbar's Platinum compatiblity. But wait, that's my job... And now I haven't enough time to do that.
 
Little things, especially three first ones.

 
That's a real good list!!

agree with all Grem said... mix recall is so awesome... opens up all sorts of stuff and keeps it really organized... I just love it once I tried it.
 

It sounds like every time we get behind someone who is extending Sonars functions by some sort of add on product they succeed and we lose the program we support.

It happened with Ben Staton and the original Sonar mods tool bar, now working for Cakewalk and now with Panup and Duckbar.

Mudgel,
Duckbar will catch up new SONAR as soon as I have time for that project.  I let you know when it's ready for "install and forget". :)

Thanks mate. Appreciate the effort but I know it's a side project and you've got your work to do as we all have. Look forward to when you can catch up with Duckbar a bit more.

I'll have to convince you to move up to Platinum. Haha!

Panu,  I appreciate all you have done with Duckbar and look forward to it working with Platinum. 
 
Duckbar has been terrific and will be for Plat.  That is a given, since you are the one doing the work.
 
Cheers!

panup
...
Addictive Drums: no need - I have NI KOMPLETE, tons of other drum kits and ability to record real drum kit anytime.
Ready baked loops etc: no need (genre mismatch)....

You own AD regardless of whether or not you use Platinum.  Why not avail yourself of these great-sounding drums?
Also, just like the "ready-baked (midi) loops" in NI Komplete drum libs, you don't have to use them at all.