I agree the word "dead" is a little drastic. But if you'll search the XLN website and the internet in general, you can no longer buy kits for AD1 and the way I understand it is the new kits for AD2 will not work in AD1. So if I didn't buy the kits I would have liked to have they are no longer available! Unless I upgrade to AD2 I can't get any kits. So, I'm stuck now with AD 1 and can't add any new kits. That is what I feel uncomfortable about.
It really is not a big deal as I said before. I have gone back to my laptop I use for live performance and now I'm spending a lot of time and energy back tracking and replacing AD1 with Superior. I would rather learn to tolerate a little longer load time and have the variety of drum kits. My issue is I play so many different styles of music in my sets that I have to have a wide variety of kits to match the style. I also play a lot of corporate gigs, weddings, partys, etc. so I have everything from country to smooth jazz. One kit just will not suffice for the songs to sound as authentic as possible. The load time is not an issue in the studio but it is a major issue when you're trying to keep people on the dance floor when they're in a partying mood. Just that extra 10 or 20 seconds can make all the difference.
I don't mean to come across as angry about this as it may seem. You know how it is with e-mails and posting. Sometimes it's hard to tell the persons attitude. I do still think that 75 dollars is rather steep for such a short time to have used AD1.

BTW, Bent! Thanks for the nice gesture about reading my posts. I try to help as much as possible. As syrupy as it sounds I really love this forum. The people here are probably the best you'll find around. I always try to give back because the people in this forum have been so good to me and I have learned so much from them.

Sorry, Bent. That was Craig that gave the kind response. At any rate, Thanks, Craig. I highly respect you. I used to read your articles in Guitar Player magazine back in the day. Your posts and webinars are truly among the best I've ever seen. Thanks. again, my friend!

Your incorrect Sidroe. You do not have to upgrade to AD2. You can download their free version and buy only the AD Paks you want. The upgrade comes with a few kits. I don't know if the deal is still valid but the Fairfax AD Pak is $89 by itself. If you upgrade to AD2 and get the Fairfax, it's $99 assuming the offer is still valid. That's a nice option but I don't know how it works if you have AD1 paks and want to upgrade those using the AD2 free version. If you have more than one add on pak, that alone makes upgrading worth it as the paks upgrade when you upgrade. It's all part of upgrading the upgrade of those you wish to upgrade when it comes to an upgrade. ;-) (I know. A poor attempt at humor.)

My understanding is that if you upgrade to AD2, you get your existing packs upgraded without having to re-buy them.

Sidroe
Sorry, Bent. That was Craig that gave the kind response. At any rate, Thanks, Craig. I highly respect you. I used to read your articles in Guitar Player magazine back in the day. Your posts and webinars are truly among the best I've ever seen. Thanks. again, my friend!

Actually it WAS Bent, but I like your posts too!  And I agree this forum is amazing. When you compare it to what else is happening on the web, it's almost like this is some kind of Land That Time Forgot, where people still open doors for each other and help passers-by fix flat tires. Sort of like Oklahoma, I guess. 

Guitarpima,
 
When you say it sounds better than AD1, just curious what you mean by that. I love AD1 and the AD PAKS so Im curious to hear the comparison of the two.

Guitarpima, are you saying I can download the free AD2 version and play my AD1 kits in it? I downloaded it and it was a completely separate program from AD1 and the only kit pieces I could find in there were the demo version of Fairfax. If I can still play my AD1 kits in AD2, why would they charge me 75 dollars to upgrade? I understand what you are saying about the choice is mine to upgrade or not. I thought I would have more time to buy the kits I wanted before the upgrade came along. It's just frustrating to see the Sonar bundles now including AD2 for upgrading to Producer when a lot of us buy Producer right out of the gate everytime. Now we stand on the sidelines while the new guys are getting thrown a bone and the rest of us are standing around trying to figure out where we can get the money to upgrade. LOL! 

I upgraded to AD2 and got the upgrades for all I had in AD1 free. I wish I had to money for Fairfax. The demo sounds very nice. I like AD2 cuz it gives more choices on an already great sounding soft synth. Different engine and takes more CPU than AD1. 

Hey, I agree too- I was pretty upset with XLN Audio since I've only recently started using what was "free" with my Sonar upgrade in October or November. I let my thoughts be known to the XLN support staff (though they aren't the ones that make the marketing decisions). I'm sure the reason XLN was bundled with Sonar X3, is that they knew they were coming up with a new version, and what better way to get users familiar with their product? I'm sure Cake and XLN saw it as a win-win, business-wise.
 
As for the upgrade there are just barely enough features that justify it (much like every Sonar or NI or fill-in-the blank software company upgrade), though I felt that several of the features were worth it, so I finally did it today after much gnashing of teeth. With the additional AD pack I had wanted anyway for only another $20, I made the decision to just get over it. The update of my existing 3 or 4 AD packs was seamless, and it still retains the lightning fast loading. Does it sound better? I don't know- I haven't really A/B'd yet, but it sounds really good to my ear.
 
I DID read that XLN would continue to sell AD packs for v1 through the end of the year- I think that was on their site somewhere, and perhaps they'll even have a blowout sale at some point?
 
A very interesting discussion, and lots of great comments- thanks to everyone for the perspective!
-Gary