So I was reluctant to take the plunge, but Last night I downloaded X3 Studio  and have installed it to my Mother in Laws office PC ( Hp H8 1212  i7 3.40 10 Gigs Ram.) We are staying here for a week in Vancouver. 
This was pretty easy, and not only that, I brought my back up drive and loaded a project, it said it couldn't re corruption? and recommended safe mode which seems to work without issues. It seems it was looking for a certain reverb I use and my DXT drum input.  I was working immediately recording some bass tracks. 
I find that Studio might be the ticket for die hard 8.5 fans as it seems to be the same as before, very very few things are different to me. Is Studio a different layout than Producer?? I thought I'd be on here asking questions all day. 
I've been messing around all afternoon, well a little Football too, and I really don't feel I'm working in a different program at all, so what's all the fuss. Who were all the people screaming in agony over the "big?" changes.  Of course there are some new toys to play with like Melodyn, and might be my use of the software is more straight forward than some, but this was way to simple. I doubt if 8.5 will be loaded again. 
Anyhow, for upgrade price of $99 at least I'm in this Decade now. 
 

The layout and key conventions are the same in Studio and Producer. Even moreso with X3 than the previous X versions with the inclusion of the ProChannel.

Somehow I get a feeling that it was a good move to give the X series a few years to smooth out the bumps. 

X3 is a WONDERFUL release - welcome aboard.
 
Bob Bone
 

The more I work with it the more I like it, Still no problems for me,,
 
,Now I'm looking at a Scarlet 6i6 for the icing on the cake... My Tascam us1641 is a turd on the road. Can't hear in the headphones, I need my mixer!! I see the 2i2 is very popular and only $140,,  but I must have SPDIF so the 6i6 is the first model sporting that. 
 

I think you'll like X3. Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty comfortable to work with.
I like the 6i6, too. For my particular scenario, the Akai EIEPro was a better choice(the integrated USB hub sealed it), but it doesn't have SPDIF. For what you need, the 6i6 or the 18i8 look like a good call.

Cactus Music
...installed it to my Mother in Laws office PC...

That's a good policy. Always use someone else's computer to test out new software.

> Somehow I get a feeling that it was a good move to give the X series a few years to smooth out the bumps. 
 
+1 If you want features jump on the bandwagon, if you want stability and maturity wait.
My own preference lays somewhere in the middle.

Well only thing I'm not in love with, and I was warned, is I find it hard to see some details like the grid lines. And the pointy tools take some getting used to. 
 
PS- I just bought a Scarlet 6i6... so big upgrade for the old Cactus. 

Wow... it is getting late so I not be remembering this well, but didn't you bring light the "X3 mucking up my 8.5" thread???
 
But, I did catch your risk management approach... "mother-in-law's PC"...
 
All kidding aside, X3 is a real gem, so is nice to see you gave it a chance.
 
 
Edit: LOL, if I had seen this post first I wouldn't be as shocked as I was reading this one.