I use a RME UCX interface and it works great.
 
When I close preferences it does take a second or two. It doesn't take 4 seconds for me. 2 Seconds though. Long enough to be noticeable. But it isn't a problem.
 
Under Preferences > Project > Record
check Allow Arm Changes during Playback and Record
Check Only for inputs in project
 
This is an X3e newness that fixes an old RME niggle where when you click the record enable button on a track there was a noticeable lag. After enabling Allow Arm Changes, this problem is gone.
 
I can't see your image showing the problem with the driver. I don't ever use Class Compliant Mode when using Windows. I just tried it and I wasn't able to get the device to show up using ASIO or any of the other driver modes. My monitor showed up, but not the interface. There were a lot of odd things in the list though, so it might have been the interface. I don't know.
 
In any case, don't give up. Sonar works fine with RME.
 

Teal
My panel looks mostly like that except I am using the XLR pair 11/12 to my monitors, so 11 is set as the master (odd that it only shows the first of the stereo pair).

It doesn't matter which of these you pick as long as you pick one. If you don't pick a playback and recording master, then you can't playback or record. Other than that, it makes no difference which one you pick, regardless of what audio you route where.

Teal

Jim Roseberry
If you have Samplitude installed, it installs a Generic ASIO driver.
Set Sonar to use ASIO driver mode... and select the RME ASIO driver.
That's all there is to it...

NO such driver appears in Smplitude.  ASIO4All not installed.

http://www.asio2ks.de/
You don't have this installed do you?
 
Did you validate that on the Preferences > Audio > Playback and Recording tab you have selected ASIO?

Be advised that new Windows Drivers were posted at RME on 6/13/2014.

gswitz
Be advised that new Windows Drivers were posted at RME on 6/13/2014.

I'm still on W7.

Teal
 
I'm still on W7.

 
Why does that matter? They're for XP, Vista, 7 and 8  - 32 or 64-bit.
 
I think it would be a good idea to download them and see if any of RME's fixes pertain to your situation.

Despite my objections, I actually like this program.  Nice touches are the UI and multi screen sizing and customization, MMC works well with an external sequencer, the Synth rack is a nice touch now that I figured it out.  Also like the MIDI controller mapping.
 
Clip looping works exactly the same as Samplitude.  The UI docking mechanism is similar too.   In fact I would say this is the closest UI to samp from all the others I have tried.  

According to readme from driver, only a few small unrelated bugfixes.  Will install later, also requires flashing the firmware, but that won't fix this problem.

Teal
According to readme from driver, only a few small unrelated bugfixes.  Will install later, also requires flashing the firmware, but that won't fix this problem.

THIS. ...This is the problem right here. You seem so certain it won't fix the problem yet you obviously have no idea what is causing the problem to begin with. As Craig pointed out, you are not thinking logically. The fact that your issue seems unique to you is a sign the problem is likely you, but you would rather blame the program instead of troubleshoot.

dubdisciple
The fact that your issue seems unique to you is a sign the problem is likely you, but you would rather blame the program instead of troubleshoot.

 
But even beyond that, a malfunction like what's being described is a "canary in the coal mine." The problem may be most visible with Sonar, but there's no guarantee it doesn't have other effects that are more subtle or pervasive.