Thanks Bapu,
That post kind of explains things. Or at least their current intentions.
What needs some clarification is, "We of course would tell people that this particular content is for only for this month so people will get fair warning" (from Andrew)
The first month is almost over, the "introductory" offer expires in 3 days, but I still don't know anything about this month's content or fixes. Makes it difficult to truly evaluate my options.
I still think Cakewalk needs to clearly define the "membership" terms of agreement with potential users.
Some things are still too vague.

jatoth
The first month is almost over, the "introductory" offer expires in 3 days, but I still don't know anything about this month's content or fixes. Makes it difficult to truly evaluate my options.
 

Not nitpicking here but in three days (or when the introductory price changes) it is most likely to be more expensive to upgrade.
 
It seems like you want to wait until you get best bang for your bux. JMO but that point would probably only ever be best seen in hindsight. Very few DAW makers (at present) ever inform you of what's coming, only what is here.
 
What seems odd to me is that if you've truly seen the difference between X3 and Platinum why would some content be the deciding point on whether to upgrade at $149 vs (say) $200 after the introductory price is dropped?
 
In the context of that question "content" is meant to mean something on par with the current Anderton FXs. And I mean that with no disrespect to those FXs.

No, it's not about "bang for my buck". I have purchased everything offered by Cakewalk since 2008. All Producer upgrades, Pro-Channel Plugs, full versions of all included extras (ie AD2, Melodyne, et al.)
As I said in my OP, I can't be a tester. I generally wait a few months for the show stoppers to be fixed and the dust to settle. This time it seems Cakewalk wants my money up front in order to receive everything you received from the first day, even if I want to wait and pay them more later. But no one at Cakewalk has confirmed or denied what the rules of membership are. Users and hosts have claimed "nothing has changed" except the purchase/payment options and distribution method.
Again, this is why I wanted Cakewalk to chime in and delineate EXACTLY what joining now vs. later includes or excludes.
Yes, I know, I can always join now and not install until I'm ready. At the moment, that seems to be my only real option if I wish to continue to have EVERYTHING Sonar has to offer.
Which brings up yet another question.
If I join now, but do not install, do I have to download each month's content during that month or will it always be available to me in my account?
 
My comment about the introductory price was in the context of Andrew's post that I quoted.
"We of course would tell people that this particular content is for only for this month so people will get fair warning"
As in, I have three days to learn whether or not this month's content will still be available next month.

If you join now, even if you don't install now, then you should have all of the new addition (extra goodies) added to Command Center and awaiting your download whenever it is you decide to jump in. 
 
It sounds like you are primarily worried about the stability of Sonar and want to wait until the initial dust has settled in terms of patching the base application of Sonar (and maybe the way it works with key plugins like AD2 etc).  I imagine those kinds of updates to the base product are going to be included in the base price whenever you but Sonar just like before (for instance, I bought X3 late in the game and was able to immediately jump to X3e to get the most stable release). 
 
If you also want all of the extra things Sonar releases to enhance the application (like the new Anderton chains, other Cake developed plugins, etc) while you are waiting for it to become stable to your satisfaction, then you should go ahead and buy it now, and then just install everything through the Command Center when you are ready.
 
If you are not interested in all of the extras, then I imagine you can just wait and upgrade when you are ready, and get the most recent version of the base application.  Otherwise, that would seem a bit crazy (e.g. "Oh yes, we did uncover that fatal flaw, but we fixed that before you were a member.  I'm afraid you'll just have to live with it")  :)

jatoth
The first month is almost over, the "introductory" offer expires in 3 days, but I still don't know anything about this

I have yet to see 'ample warning' given by a Cakewalk representative for this event.
 

This was the first post of a newsletter with the end of promo price date that I recall http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3171261. Also Feb 28 was mentioned in the original announcement thread as the tentative end of promo price. Would it be surprising if the promo stopped Feb 28?

jatoth
Yes, I know, I can always join now and not install until I'm ready. 

Be careful with that thought.
 
It is ONLY fully true if you buy from a retailer. Because when you buy from a retailer you need to redeem/register that purchase with CW as they do not know about it.
 
If you buy from the Cakewalk store you are automatically registered.
 
As confirmed by CW employees elsewhere your 12 months starts when you register.

bapu

jatoth
 
Baps,
"So if you wait until December 2015 to become a member (i.e. upgrade) you will get everything I got on (nearly) day one plus any added content, features and fixes since that time. One caveat, you pay more than I did since I got the introductory price of $149."
This contradicts what some others have posted. Some have said, "you miss any content released while you were not a member".  See Mager's post above.

Yes, I may be off the mark on "content" (if content is defined as Anderton FXs, loops etc.) but not stuff like Addictive.
 
So, let's say if you're not a member and some content comes up for grabs, and you hear about it, you probably will never get it unless you jump on membership that month. In the OP you may have been asking how will you know (in advance) about upcoming content. I suspect you will not. Again, one of the the perks of membership is the surprise arrival of content.

Which is probably a cunning plan of Baldric proportions to get more punters keeping tabs on developments by having more of a forum prescence

scook
This was the first post of a newsletter with the end of promo price date that I recall http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3171261. Also Feb 28 was mentioned in the original announcement thread as the tentative end of promo price. Would it be surprising if the promo stopped Feb 28?

I've said it before :  I don't consider an email to a specific customer as ample warning to the rest of us, as we were promised.  I wouldn't mind seeing the tentative date in question.  I've searched and can't find it.
 
So I guess I would be surprised.

It was not sent to a specific customer, it was a newsletter which even if you did not receive you have known about for several weeks.