SEE?! Craig showed up as I was typing up my diatribe. Dude gives a shizzle. Very encouraging.
 

lawp
while I agree that the bang for buck is great for a user who doesn't have many 3rd party plugs already, I think the bundled stuff distracts from the daw itself

Yeah, I beat that horse to death. Almost stroked out over it but it ain't happening. I agree but I guess I'm just happy they are righting the train. My biggest concern was the stability and if that's there then $150 is fine. Always was. It seems to be from most reports so the other stuff is just gravy. Cheers.

I'm very happy with X3 Producer. I'm very happy to see Sonar collaborating with some top of the line 3rd party folks, too. The Melodyne collab is awesome and a great step forward.
The Essential version that comes included is great and probably enough for most people. I know it REALLY would have been enough for me but, the upgrade special to the Editor version was too tempting for me to pass up.
I'd LOVE to see Cakewalk do a collaboration with Waves or some of the other major 3rd party folks.

SimpleM
So I have been a Cakewalk user since PA8 and a "producer" level buyer/upgrader/user since Producer 6.  It seems like in the old days part of the bonus to buying producer was that you got plugs/instruments that no other version got and they were full versions, none of these "demo" feeling or limited plugs and instruments.  With X2 I suddenly felt like I was paying a ton of money extra for "limited" software versions designed to part me with another $100+ in order to actually utilize the useful features. (Overloud stuff, prochannel add ons etc.)  How is X3 in this regard?  It looks like it is getting worse.  It looks like AD is the real deal but how about the AAS stuff, Melodyne?  (Melodyne seems to be the worst for the ole bait and switch from how it reads).  It almost feels like Sonar has become a free to play video game that sets it up to get you money on the back end if you actually want to play the game.  I have spent many $1000s of dollars riding the Cakewalk upgrade train and now as I try to consider going to X3 this just feels like something is trying to violate me.

Hi SimpleM...

I can undstand how you feel, but maybe consider some of this...

I've been using Cakewalk since it started... All upgrades... The bundled soft wares have trended much the same... Small things we're complete and large devices the basic, never the full sized edition...

...and these are "extras" to me... I myself feel I'm paying for the maintenance and development and get these bundled items as freebies that sweeten the pot... Some I use and some I don't but they never hurt or truly influence my upgrading as I would even with no extras... But that's me...

As to X3 in particular? I think it's an excellent buy... Melodyne works great and the essentials version does most everything but the polyphonic corrections... A nice tool to have, but it would have increased the upgrade too much as there are some who don't need/use all the extras... I'm enjoying Melodyne very much...

Addictive drums? A nice full featured program with good samples included... I used it for one thing while trying it out and enjoyed much of it... I have a problem with the note name display (another thread), but it's still a good value...

I've only toyed with the AAS device briefly so I don't know how well it sits in a song, but it sounded cool and I can see using it when called for...

I think X3 to be an excellent purchase or upgrade as it is... Even with the issues I have with it...

Keni

Thank you for the useful response Keni.  I'm afraid several of the fanboys got their panties in a bunch over the rant/lament part of my OP and could not see that I was asking the questions that a few of you have taken the time to answer.

I simply cannot understand posts like the one from the OP. 
 
As nice as the extra goodies are - and apparently you are confusing them with "LE" versions, which they are most certainly not - you still don't have to use any of them.
 
Also, if cost is a concern, you do have a choice of getting the Studio or regular (formerly Essentials) versions.  For $49 you can upgrade to a full-fledged DAW without the "extra stuff" you seem to have a problem with. 
 
I just don't see how CW could make the offers any better (without going bankrupt).  Sheesh.

studiodude1
I'm very happy with X3 Producer. I'm very happy to see Sonar collaborating with some top of the line 3rd party folks, too. The Melodyne collab is awesome and a great step forward.
The Essential version that comes included is great and probably enough for most people. I know it REALLY would have been enough for me but, the upgrade special to the Editor version was too tempting for me to pass up.
I'd LOVE to see Cakewalk do a collaboration with Waves or some of the other major 3rd party folks.

IDK... I'd kind of rather see them back some up and comers. It's cheaper for us and good for the market by introducing some competition. I said this in another thread but bringing Overloud into the fold has been excellent for my set up. I likely never would have heard of them otherwise. Not sure about the Blue Tubes guys but that looks like an interesting set of kit. There are lots of units in that bundle that emulate specific hardware that other big companies have sims for but charge WAY more for and I have seen used in a lot of tuts to accomplish specific tasks. I know guys have kind of poopooed that set because it's duplicates of stuff they already have from more well known companies but as I watched the demos I realized "Hey! That thing does that thing that that guy in the tut does with that other thing!" So are the Blue Tubes emulations bad or do those plugs do what they are supposed to? If they do the job then yeah... that would open some doors for me personally. When it comes down to it I still personally think and EQ is an EQ and a Comp is a Comp, etc but if I see something I want to try on my mix and the recipe uses an emulation of a specific hardware model using one of the more well known brands that I don't have BUT have a Blue Tubes version of it... well at least I can try it out and not have to guess at curves, ratios, attack/release times, etc. Doing that kind of micromanaging of effects is interesting and educational but otherwise is a huge PITA when you just want to get something done.
 
Guh... I should get back to work. Cheers.

SimpleM
Thank you for the useful response Keni.  I'm afraid several of the fanboys got their panties in a bunch over the rant/lament part of my OP and could not see that I was asking the questions that a few of you have taken the time to answer.

You wrote a 200 word rant and embedded in the middle was a 6 word question. The title did not help either, and thanks for calling us fanboys ;).
 
I apologise for any offence.

SimpleM
I'm afraid several of the fanboys got their panties in a bunch

Buddy... that was lame. Really really lame.

Come on Gang...
 
Let's all chill..................
 
Now back to Sonar!
 
X3c is an excellent product. It is well worth it's cost for most of us (relativity is a bi*ch)...
 
If asked for a recommendation at this point, I would most definitely  advise on buying Sonar X3... Overall it can't be beat! Does it have limitations and issues? Everything does...
 
The best user support from both the company's representatives (and programmers etc.) and the excellent group on the Sonar Forums!
 
So many of us here do our best to help other users and sometimes our emotions get the better of us...
 
But in the end (I hope) we're all making music and using Sonar to our best ability! Only to be improved over time in both our understanding of Sonar and the improvement of Sonar...
 
...and of course, staying friendly with everyone on the Forums!
 
Keni