Beepster
Ah, I see where the problem is. It sounds like it used to be on the Track Control pane thingie so now pressing I is the extra step. Yeah, they probably could have left that in as a "Custom" option (maybe they have... I didn't check) but it's still only a simple hotkey away.
 
Also IIRC, John the +/- keys on your QWERTY will adjust a semitone up or down if you first click on the Pitch area within the Inspector strip area so it's the active control.

Its really not that simple in the past. The Key +/- was a widget in the track header and was most often inaccessible due to being one of many such widgets on the header. Consequently adjusting the track height was the only way to see it. There were ways to get around this but it would require one to not show all the widgets. We are talking about almost all the widgets you see on the Inspector now.  A very few were on the the old inspector but keep in mind it was not fully populated by widgets. So in order to see it one had to adjust the track height than adjust it widget and then readjust the track height back. If you needed to do this to more than one track it would be an unnecessary hassle. Now the inspector has all controls and makes it very simple.   
 
Remember that the OP started this with where is it kind of question. I believe that once he gets use to how things are done in the X series his work flow will actually speed up. 
 
Nice tip Beep. 
 
 

Oh yeah, I know all about wrangling with the track pane thing to get at stuff which is why it's nice there are multiple ways to get at stuff (I hardly access the track panes aside from MSR controls and sometimes the FX bin).
 
What I propose... and I'm sure this has been brought up before, is make the "Custom" option truly customizable. Like you have the list of available parameters and as you add them they show up in order of how you chose them so that way you could have your pitch above your pan or whatever. I'd say make them drag moveable directly on the panes but that would be a little too much fancy coding for little payoff.

Oh and my old DAW was a pain as far as panes too (get it? lol... I slay me) except it didn't have all the other ways to get at stuff because it was archaic and therefore very rigid.
 

I have two monitor also. But with screen sets, Inspector, Browser, and the associated hot keys, I have Sonar stretched across both screens and just use the hot keys to navigate around.

It took a while to get use to, but once I have it is a much better workflow. Hard to explain why it's better, but for me it is.

So why can't I get to my MIDI FX.  I see the stinking things, and I have the region highlighted.  AGAIN! Where's the LOGIC? Can't get my work done!

King Conga
So why can't I get to my MIDI FX.  I see the stinking things, and I have the region highlighted.  AGAIN! Where's the LOGIC? Can't get my work done!

Okay... you're freaking out again. What are you trying to do?

Editing in Piano Roll View:  So, correct me if I'm wrong...I used to be able to grab, and slide length of note, or drag it up/down, 2X click on it to see all parameters.  Now I have to change modes to do the smallest of tasks, and change back.  What's the "SMART" way to do it now, since I'm obviously not "normal" anymore.
 
Let me add a dynamic to this whole general discussion that no one seems to understand about longtime users.  Please understand that I have held on to 8.5 for as long as I can, but I AM (believe it or not) technically mature enough to understand that if I want to keep up with the technology, I too have to change.  But the design flaw with these young geeks today (it's not just with CW) is they refuse to understand the Customer Service side of things. Where LOYAL customers deserve EZ change, and no matter how cute, or efficient they think NEW ways of doing something is so GREAT.  Furthermore, I CAN'T go back, even if I wanted to.  I mean, ask yourselves this: Just exactly HOW MANY features actually needed to be changed to keep up with the latest technology?  I'm no Steve Jobs (THANK GOD!) but I do know enough about PC logic to know the answer to that question is "Not very many features".  Let's use the analogy of a classic mic, like the AKG 414, or any other classic mic, or a classic compressor, WHATEVER...how much can "new and improved" tech actually make those components SOO much better?

We'll, if you re just changing from ver 8.5 - then there *is* a little bit of a learning curve to get used to the "X" interface. We've al done it though - and once you do, it is actually "better" (but it's really annoying while you're trying to figure out where everything has moved to).

Like the guys say - this forum is the place to come to. We've all been through this.... ;-)

Ok, despite the insulting tone towards us "new" geeks everything you mentioned in that post can be easily accomplished with the Smart Tool. You have to sit down for a half hour and learn everything it does in the PRV. Some things I'll admit aren't as intuitive in the PRV with it as I would like either but this is easily resolved by accessing the traditional tools one the fly by using the F5-58 hotkeys or bringing up the HUD by pressing T. I know it's a pain to change your workflow but trust me, with a little reading and poking around you'll be inputting and manipulating MIDI data very quickly.
 
If it is bothering you THAT much you should probably stick to doing your tracking, composition and editing in 8.5 then bring the tracks into the newer versions for mixing if you want access to the new effects and stuff. I never used pre X series but I do know it was a massive change. Most people got over it and prefer the new methods now. If you don't give it a chance or put a little time in to learn it though you'll never reap the benefits. Freaking out about every little change you find isn't going to help you get your work done.
 
I hope you find your groove. Good luck.

BTW one quick and easy way to see the data on every note you touch is to put the Event Inspector module in the Control Bar. It will give you all the data you need as soon as you click on a note. No need for double clicking or extra popups to show the data. You can also edit those parameters very easily in that module. I suggest you read up on that as well. I think you will like it.