Sylvan
1. With lifetime updates, I am worried that Cakewalk's revenue will go down and jeopardize the future strength of the company. Can Cakewalk keep top-of-the-line programmers and staff if the revenue dries up? Will someone please explain this in detail and settle my fears? Tell me how this will keep Cakewalk strong with the best staff. I see this as lessening the revenue. Please show me that I am wrong. I want to be wrong.
Realistically, think of all the people still using 8.5 and X1-X3. They've never updated, so they certainly aren't paying the salaries. What pays the salaries are the updates from the core users, but also, new users and new products. There is focus on both for the present, and extending into the future. I expect that if a recording newbie is on the fence about which DAW to buy, all things being equal, the one with lifetime updates will have a big advantage.
Also, getting back again to those "legacy" users, maybe they didn't want to pay $150 to update because the program they have does what they need. But they might be willing to spend $20 or whatever for some cool ad-on. This is the approach Windows is taking with Windows 10, which (to use a restaurant analogy) basically turns their OS into an a la carte experience instead of prix fixe.
2. Will OSX support diminish Windows development/enhancements, etc.? I know this has been touched on a little earlier, but I am looking for a solid, detailed explanation on how this will NOT interfere with the excellent Windows development/enhancements/support we have been spoiled with.
Because nowadays, the code base is so similar. When Cakewalk's developers create a new feature for SONAR Windows, by default it's also being developed for SONAR Mac. I believe the biggest issue will be support, because so many calls relate to computer operation and not SONAR. Although supposedly the Mac "just works," I believe there will still need to be at least some dedicated Mac support people.