I think the current release is about strengthening the platform on all levels - SONAR, delivery system, store, forums. As the French say..."reculer pour mieux sauter" ("draw back in order to make a better jump").
 
The next year is more about building on the platform.

I get it, as explained I know the level of effort involved getting internal delivery systems is massive.  And I've no doubt that good things are to come but I can't deny I wish I hadn't started the clock ticking so soon and waited until you had rolled out a few more solid features....sorry

That being said I am happy to support the company as I think your interaction with the user base on this forum is exemplary!

Based on the features list, I think it's safe to assume that a lot of work was done "under the hood". There seems to be a a need to have a lot of stuff nailed down in order to have the vocal sync and mix memory working smoothly. I'm hoping that the side effect will be an overall improved user experience.
 
I'm waiting for a week and then I'll buy in. And no, I don't think we were spoiled by X3. It was the first time I felt that a version upgrade went well. Everything after X1 is gravy. Well, maybe everything after expanded.

The updatet console view, with expandable sends and effectbins, is worth the uppgrade for me. The stupid limit we had earlier, made me embarrassed when discussing Sonar with other DAW users. Everything else was good, but that thing was very annoying.
If we now can get VCA groups then Sonar will be a clear winner. (I'm not sure if I need VCA, but it seems like the new big thing among other DAW's)

No Way!!!  I loved the evolution of "X" and the entire platform and this is just accelerating my LOVE 
 
I'm tickled pink already!  Addictive Drums is now much deeper with the 3/3/3 addons (for most people!) and it essentially makes all the other goodies FREE...
 
I think stability is better... flows wonderfully.  And everything everyone has already said!
 
Awesome evolution, worth every penny... and it ain't finished!

I guess at some point DAWs in general, not just Sonar, must reach a "feature saturation point". The only way forward then will be improvements to workflow etc.
 
I think that has happened to a certain degree here. I love the recycled FX UI feature. How many mouse clicks has that saved? One click to open each FX at a time, as opposed to double click to open new one, click on close button to close old one. That's two clicks saved everytime I open an FX.
 
There's several little things that haven't made the headlines that make working a slicker experience. Collapsible control bar, CC display, PRV zoom level. Nothing 'sexy' but all the little bits add up to a better experience.
 
I said it at the time amongst a whole load of naysayers, and I think I've been proved right, X1 was a real turning point and we're now starting to realise the full potential.

CakeAlexS
Sometimes the best changes are the boring ones which don't translate well through marketing...

Well said! Truly, i had not realized this until you said it; i find this comment quite profound, and essentially it is a paradoxical statement but enlightening nonetheless; nicely said, and very pertinent concerning the current climate surrounding Sonar!
 
Even though i did actually feel a little bit disappointed about this latest release of Sonar, looking from another perspective, i'll be happy to try and see this as a "Quality, not quantity" release.
 
And if i stop for ten seconds and take the focus of myself for a moment, and look back over the years, seriously, starting from Sonar 6 Producer onward, each and every subsequent annual release of Sonar has been nothing short of spectacular IMO (if memory serves me correctly), definitely not flimsy in terms of what it brought to the table. And i don't think any other DAW can boast that.
Also, over the years Cakewalk has not been afraid to get there hands dirty and have a go at reinventing Sonar for a better end-user experience. And without wanting to sound condescending at all, from a business point-of-view that takes a certain amount of courage, and thus deserves kudos from where i'm standing.
 
I've always had the impression that Cakewalk wanted to do the right thing by their customers, and always in order to make us happy, all the way up to X3, each new version was seemingly bristling with new tech and toys, anyone could see that Cakewalk developed this DAW from the heart and with earnest intent. I cannot remember a release of Sonar before this one that ever failed to impress me, and i sincerely applaud Cakewalk for that, and for trying to look-after their customers.
 
Indulge me to be a bit more emotive about this... To some extent i feel a little bit sorry for Cakewalk, because some of us are a bit down on them over the latest release, but if i was to get my head out of the sand for just long enough, i could actually see the new 'substance' in this latest version... 16 Virtual Amps, REmatrix Solo, Addictive Drums II Producer Bundle, VST 3 enhancements, MIDI enhancements... all of which qualify as "Quality" in my books; in all honesty, the REmatrix verb alone is worth the total upgrade fee to me.
 
And seeing as how Cakewalk will be bringing more to the table throughout the year, then hey, i'm actually bordering on feeling guilty about how much they're giving us for the money. Let me say... This DAW has character, not only in it, but also behind it. Cheers.
 
  

Hey, I'm happy if the technical debt brought about by their time under Roland has been somewhat paid. The best DAW in the world is only as good as the bugs that affect you.
 
Regards,
Dan

I wish bug-free would become the norm, instead of the other way around.