making me feel better about not investing in one of these. 

I so badly wanted one of these console's and I waited for that UK and Canadian deals to happen in the USA .. BUT it never happened .. They never offered us the USA customer base this deal .. Considering Cake is based in Boston What The HELL. Screw the hand that feeds you!!
 I would never buy Cakewalk hardware ever not after seeing what they did to everyone that spent so much money on something that they abandoned ..
 Im sure there's people still paying off this console too... Such a shame!!

I bought the VS700 system, I gotta say it's the best idea for a dedicated hardware/software system out today. Does exactly what i need it to do for me personally. Couldn't have dreamed of a better system that integrates the computer and DAW program. Hated Pro-tools, this for me was the only option that united dedicated hardware and software. At this point if they still sold the system and I needed a dedicated system, I would choose the VS700 over again. It may not be perfect yet, CW is still working on and fixing bugs and updates for it, but still for simplicity and convenience and flexibility, this can't be beat.

There is no information to suggest that this is still be worked on. Cakewalk have been silent on that question, as they have on whether there is to be another x2 patch. I think it's worth pointing that out in fairness to potential customers. 

Amazing that anyone can say that at the state it's in with a str8 face lol

Hey c'mon Mr Munnis where are you hiding - you graciously acknowledge the on going issues then disappear without even a hint that they will be fixed - its about time someone grew a pair and just told the truth - I would much rather receive bad news than no news.

Me too. Simply being ignored is pretty much those most offensive of all possible approaches. 

reminds me of Punxsutawney

I'm currently mixing something in Pro Tools, on somebody else's gear. And it's a sobering reminder that the Pro Tools *software* really isn't up to much. Most of its merits lie in how tightly it all works as an integrated hardware / software system. When the v700 first appeared, it seemed like we were going to get an integrated hardware / software strain of Sonar aimed at more serious studio use. It's a shame that that approach has been abandoned so quickly, when the software side of that equation is well ahead of PT in all kinds of ways. 

It may (or may not, we'll never know) have been a strategic decision at Cakewalk to put their focus on the toy side (e.g. touch, iPad remote, etc) to target mass market / home user / annual upgraders and keep upgrade fees flowing. If so, they'll eventually run off pro users, which are after stability, usability and workflow. You just cannot satisfy users at opposite end of the spectrum.

I've observed similar with other companies (e.g. IK) that release gimmicks instead of serious tools and provide poor/zero support for their other products; I strongly doubt that I'll put more money into their products. 

Personally, I can work quite alright with X2a. Pls don't hit me (!?!) but I do get along with it OK (having never used 8.5.3 so there is no comparison). However, what I dread is that the things that work now and didn't until X2null, will be broken again in X2b, X3 or whatever. I'm getting tired of upgrades at all ends (not just Cake) where you can't be sure what you're in for ...