Where are you in your search for a new DAW?

In early 2016, I decided to update my Reaper license, buy Cubase Pro, and update my Studio One license (at that point I was just using it for the product page) because I wasn't happy with how Sonar was progressing. After Gibson took over, it seemed that things were on the upswing with Sonar. I loved the new developments at Cakewalk, and thought they were on the right path. I learned the ins/outs of the other programs in my spare time. Eventually, the development at Cake seemed to break down. Once the future updates page was gone, and lifetime updates were sold, I knew the writing was on the wall. I hoped that there would be a down time, and another company would purchase.
 
Studio One was too limited. I do a lot of MIDI, and use a lot of hardware synths. Reaper was too fiddly when it came to MIDI. The updates this year helped a lot, but I just want my software to work as simply as possible without having to build macros and tool bars. Sonar was still great when I wanted to do something brilliant like drag audio to the timeline for a tempo map, but the drum maps, PRV changes, etc. didn't get upgraded. They either stayed in their clunky original form, or got dumbed-down. Breaking the ability to use both the the piano roll and the drum map view at the same time was a total killer when it came to orchestral work.
 
The more I dug into Cubase, the more I liked it. If there was something I wanted to do, there were a ton of tutorials and even actual program courses out there. The interface is slick, intuitive, and customizable. The Control Room was a revelation. I've used it for a solid year, and never had a crash. Now, I not only like it, but genuinely consider it the best daw I've ever used. The development from version 8 to 9.5 has been phenomenal. The forum isn't as personable or volatile as the Sonar forum, but I've had every question answered quickly and correctly. I've spent a lot of money on orchestral libraries the last couple of years. Expression Maps are fundamentally part of my workflow. The great experience with Cubase led me to purchase Wavelab, which now works in conjunction with Cubase. With these two together, there's literally nothing that I feel I can't do.

I was coming from the mere Sonar Artist, so no killer upgrade to Cubase for me. Probably Cubase would have cost me $400 or more. Plus I had Cubase in the late nineties and early aughts, and made a CD with it - only to find out that VST5 or whatever that iteration was had an inferior summing engine. Which they changed. It all kind of sounded like late '90's a$$ . . . so Cubase though it be much improved  would probably just trigger me. Plus as of now there is no demo of Cubase 9.5
 
I tried Reaper years ago, and thought it unbelievably arcane and impossible for my style of workflow, which demands more or less instant gratification. Hopefully it got better, but I haven't gotten any less obtuse.  :)
 
Short story is, I demoed Studio One for two days, found everything I needed almost right away, and bought it today. There's a million well done free vids to help. $167 out of pocket.
 
Will Cubase outlive Studio One, because they have a larger user base and the deep pockets of a ginormous and benevolent corporation, Yamaha? OR will Cubase bite the dust first because the corporate overlords have a rough quarter and need to shed weight, whilst millions of abandoned users wail to an indifferent universe?
 
Let's face it, we're all just jumping on the backs of turtles in the stream. Might as well save some $$$.
 
cheers, good night, and good luck.
-Tom