Update to BandLab?

I'm currently using Sonar X3.  I'm not looking for complications. I assume if I update to the new BandLab, all (or most) of the software add-ons that came with X3 will be loaded on this Platinum type platform. Can anyone tell me why I WOULD  want to do this. Ie, what else would this have, other than what I have with X3? If it had better/easier to use effects or mastering tools, I guess that might be worth it
Thanks.
LNovik

Joined with your previous thread.
Why? Free bug fixes and features
If you want to see what you missed in the last four years feel free to visit here. Ignore the content and new plug-insl read about the changes to the DAW. Browse the SONAR help page and new Cakewalk product page.

Hi,
Thanks, Scook. I DID hit the "here" button link you furnished. I assume you mean to scroll all the way thru the many pages of the sequential updates--from recent to 2015. I do see there were many, though I didn't see anything prior to  2015, which is only 3 years ago, not 4. I wonder if there was anything different when Platinum first came out.
However, my main question is about these updates. I seem to have read that many of these 3rd party add-on will NOT be included with the current free version of Bandlab Platinum. FOr instance, as I read about some software that might be valuable, I saw:1)
Mastering Templates;  August 2015; Get more out of SONAR's Start Screen with six brand new Mastering Templates that master your mix in seconds. 
 2)Les Paul Gold Top Expansion Pack
 3) Vocal sync-this one I'm especially interested in
Will these types of additions be included in the new version.
PS: Thanks. Sorry I sent the initial question several times; I hadn't realized it had gone thru.
LNovik

So I'm downloading cake as we speak. Downloaded the assistant and Windows 10 Defender didn't want to run it but I told him it was okay.
WSS

Okay. That was pretty simple.

WSS

In the end in the case of X3. Like me you will always have that version available to install as long as there is a OS that will run it. There is no danger in messing it up by installing CbB
So personally I'm not going to worry about what might happen to my older versions because I will probably never open them again anyways. 
There are many improvements to the new versions and if you use MIDI and the PRV your're really short changing yourself by not upgrading. 

I have read and reread Scook's reply--as well as the others that followed it--but still don't see an answer to the main question I had posed. I DO realize that any plug ins or other virtual effects/synths I already had would NOT be removed by  installing this new software (as long as I don't uninstal X3.) However, as some of the other participants have said, it might take a while to learn this new software, and it's true that time is very scarce for me (I'm not dying, I just have an unrelated job that takes a lot of time.) However, if this new version had most of the content that I saw has been added to Platinum over the past few years, it would prob be worthwhile. As I had said, that Vocal SYnc, which, I believe, would help me align vocal tracks when I sing two versions of the same song to get my scrawny little voice to sound more full---that would be probably be worth the time in updating alone. However, as I had said, I thought I saw somewhere that some of these 3rd party software updates were NOT going to be included with this free version. I realize that there are multiple other technical aspects of this new version which do appear to be much better, but it would be nice to know beforehand what will and will not be included.
Thanks again for your time.
LNovik

From the replies, my guess is that perhaps some people are not sure which 3rd party programs are included, and which are not--which is why my question does not seem to be answered.
I went back to the original announcement by BandLab a few weeks ago, and they said: The big news is a business model change that is only possible because of our ecosystem – we’re releasing the entire feature set of SONAR Platinum (sans certain 3rd party plugins and content) in its new form of Cakewalk by BandLab completely free.
So, I still have this main question: when I look at all the 3rd party updates in Platinum in the past 3 years, such as 1)Vocal Sync and 2)mastering tools, Wwitten as "six brand new Mastering Templates that master your mix in seconds." and 3)Les Paul Gold Top Expansion Pack---are these some of the 3rd party plugins that will or will not be included? ALso, is this software free to everyone, or just those updating from other Cakewalk versions.
Thanks.
LNovik

Not sure if this was mentioned for the OP, but aux tracks made cwp files not backwards compatible. I have not seen if this was ever changed, but may have been. What this could mean is if you use them and revert to X3 that those cwp files will not open.

I have only x3e and then I scored the free copy of the new Home Studio. 
I jumped on the CbB right away. 
For me there has been no noticable differance between HS and Bandlab version other than some better features. Most I'll never use, but cool,, they are free. 
It's been nice to have been given both these new versions free,, I recommend just installing it and that will answer your question right away. And I have opened X3e a few times since and nothing seems broken. 
And CWP files from Home Studio seems to open in X3e. Haven't tried any Bandlab stuff yet but will just to test when I get a minute. 
 
The coolest thing so far is the this fancy Pro Channel comes with a lot more than it did in HS. That has made it worth it alone. Didn't like the new PVR darkness but scook posted how to fix that somewhere here. 

I updated Cakewalk products for decades but stopped at X3P (also have 8.5p installed). I installed CbB the other day and it happily picked up all my VSTs from previous packages.  8.5p, X3p, & CbB are all now co-installed on my DAW with no issues.