It would be nice if the Akai APC 40 controller could be used with The Matrix View.

It seems that every pad in the Matrix View grid has its own MIDI learn function.  My MIDI controller can access them.
 
Couldn't you learn each pad on the APC to a pad in the Matrix?  Even the Matrix column headers are MIDI learn capable.

the apc works a bit differently than the usual midi controllers, in that it's sending on multiple channels all the time (if i remember correctly) i think live uses its scripting stuff (lua or perl is it?) to make it work like it does with live (and it works great with live) my brain hurts

The APC40 has a Live mode and a generic MIDI mode.  If it sends MIDI data it should be MIDI learn capable. 
 
You could probably map the Matrix grid to the 40 pads, then the row of Live track buttons to the Matrix column headers, and the faders to the Sonar Mixer.  It would be a kluge, but you could get some functionality I think.
 
Obviously not plug and play.  So if that is too much trouble to configure, it does come with Live, so you could always use that! 
 
I have Live, but don't use it.  Makes my brain hurt!