JCody,
 you could install X3, anyway; there's no problem to have the previous Sonar versions together in the machine.  This way, you could start enjoying X3 while using the X2's or any previous version's playlist.

@ CW come on guys  can you not do anything to bring Playlist up to scratch?

Well Cake really gave us a lot of fixes in X3D, hopefully X3E now. I totally understand the frustration.

JCody
I reality, I use Sonar to run "live" theatrical performances, and have been doing so for over 10 years. Quite successfully I might add. It has been incredibly reliable. [...] Sonar sends midi time code to the light board, program changes to the digital mixing console, passes plug-in effects through it to the performers mics, and plays the music and sound effects. It's the heart of our tech. One technician can control an entire production, lights, sound, and special effects running through Sonar....

Thank you for the response. I have never done this, and asked about it one day and got a reply on why another would/could not do it. I simply took that advice as gospel, so your post is an eye opener for me.
 
Back to your OP... definitely an issue that affects workflow dramatically, IMHO.

Now it might be just me but has anyone else noticed that no CW staff have ever made comment on this?  They pop up on many other issues, but not this one...why? Probs because Playlist is only in Sonar because they just have not bothered to remove it from the code. I do not think it is ever going to change as CW staff obviously think there is no advantage in changing it, and I daresay it has not even been looked at for many MANY years!

Actually they have made improvements recently. They added lots of columns in X2 that gave you more information and functionality. The only problem was (and I reported it) was that when you arranged the columns the way you liked them and then saved the playlist, the changes wouldn't save. This problem wasn't a showstopper but they DID fix it in X3. However since that fix, the new (much worse) problems appeared. They obviously have been working on the Playlist. It just needs a little love right now . . . well actually it needs a whole lotta love.

Also Ryan Munnis said this on another thread regarding the playlist.
"It doesn't mean we don't care about the issue, it just didn't make it into this update unfortunately."

JCody
Also Ryan Munnis said this on another thread regarding the playlist.
"It doesn't mean we don't care about the issue, it just didn't make it into this update unfortunately."

Yeah I read that and thought "well exactly WHICH update is it going to make it into?" It is still clunky, glitchy and a bit of a PITA to use. Especially when compared to the slick offerings on iOS with the iPad. However with the iPad I am sorta restricted to having everything as MP3 data. I would MUCH rather use the lappy and Sonar at gigs and get all the flexibility of MIDI and audio combined in one onstage app...

And still no word from those at CW

+1 on the need to address this issue PLEASE!!!!