In watching the free video that came with the X3 upgrade, I'm not seeing that it's a whole new program that will take me light years to understand.  Granted, I've not used X3 yet, but it just seems like a REALLY great improvement over my [pre-historic] 7PE.  The stuff that is new, are mostly features that weren't in 7PE it appears.  I realize some key bindings are different, but it almost feels I could just dive in and start using the program right away.
 
Again, these are first impressions, but with all the reading, I was under the assumption the X series was a whole new learning curve and almost like starting over with things.  I never d/l'd the demo, because my computer couldn't handle it.
 
Any rate, I'm sure when the new StudioCat computer lands and I'm deep into X3e, I'll have questions, and no where to come....and I may be wrong...but seems like I can see some light already.  I guess I'm saying I don't feel like a drummer!

I jumped from 8.5PE to X3 Pro. Mostly it hasn't been to difficult to figure it out, though some things did throw me completely (clip envelopes being one of them) and required the help of the good people here to figure out and some things I still prefer the way it used to be. I don't regret getting it, but most of all I wish they would sort out the console view - 8.5 was better IMO.

I wouldn't be too surprised about it it is Sonar after all. 
 
When X1 came out I was not the first to get it and I was able to read the manual before I bought it. The ability to read about it helped me greatly in understanding the new GUI.  

I took the leap from Sonar 7 to X2 last year and it took some time to get used to the new ways of doing things. But now I can't really think of anything that I miss about the old version, other that the fact that it was more stable.
 

The way the smart tool acts in the track view and the PRV will be different for you. It took me a while before I really got the hang of it. And I don't think I am alone.
 
And that's the first thing I can think of. Because the way these tools work and the associated hot keys that go with them, threw my whole work flow out of wack. But once I started down the X path, I was determined to make it work.
 
It has taken me a while, but I finally can say, I got it!
 
Wish you all the best of luck.
 
 

I went from 8.5 to X2 to X3.  It wasn't too bad a transition (but I also bought a copy of Scott Garrigus' "Sonar x2 Power" as insurance: it saved me a few times).  I probably spent a day just clicking buttons and it all started to make sense.

yeah..I bought Sonar 6 and 7 books from Scott...and read a little lying in bed ...and also the rare reference...like you said...to "save you".  But otherwise I'll buy books like that and then find that I just start clicking...like you... and make enough progress.  Maybe look up some specific items.  I know I don't go really deep, deep, deep into the program, but comfortable enough to wizz around with what I want to do.

I was led to really believe it was like jumping to another planet....but watching the video, much looks very similar.

That was my thought during all the X1 furore: it's still Sonar. Some stuff's different in how the user interface works, and you need to change some habits, but it's the same language with a different accent is all.

I remember how people went ape poop over losing their little icons in the toolbar, everyonce in a while you'll still hear of someone bring it up.
peep's adjusted.
I would like to see the option of bringing back icons, the options to choose which ones would be visible.
that and the control bar. id like to be able hide the control bar and just call up(show ) one or two modules.
the transport and marker, exc.
 
I don't think the change from 8 to x3 is that hard, its different but not hard.