Adding Addictive Drums to the package seems like a death knell for SD3, but I hope not.  I find that owning AD has made SD3 a little more useful to me. Many of the things that frustrated me about SD3 are mostly addressed with AD, but being a person who has to work with a wide range of music genres, AD's limitations become apparent quickly. Sometimes you just need to add a quick 808 kick, even if it's just to layer with your acoustic kick. I know find that between AD, SD3, my old hardware HR-16 and some synth drum reinforcement from Raprure and Z3ta+2, my drum needs seem complete.

+1
 
I use Session Drummer for electronic drums all the time!

Yeah, I really like the SD kits and the Electronic Drums expansion pack is a real help.

You do realize that just because Cakewalk included SD3 with X3 does not mean that they will continue to develop SD3.  If you have noticed, X3 also includes a lot of old plug-ins (soft synths) with bugs that will never be addressed.

Living Room Rocker
 
  If you have noticed, X3 also includes a lot of old plug-ins (soft synths) with bugs that will never be addressed.

This is true. But in no way stops them from being useful. I still use all of them!
 
I use SD3 for quick stuff. Just load and go type stuff. And I got a Midi Pack from Platinum Samples that give new life to SD3!! They sound really good!!

Living Room Rocker, I suspect there is unlikely to be an SD, but you never know.  In either case, like many of the other older plugins, it doesn't hurt Cakewalk to include it.  The plugins that disappear usually are the third part ones.
 

I still have the add on packs for session drummer and I will use Session drummer from time to time. I have not had a lot of time to work with X3 or addictive drums. I am looking forward to spending some time with the upgrade and putting the new version through its paces.
 
With just the little bit of time I worked with Addictive drums I can already tell that it will be a great asset. I will also use SD from time to time. I am glad that the bakers kept SD as well.

dubdisciple
Living Room Rocker, I suspect there is unlikely to be an SD, but you never know.  In either case, like many of the other older plugins, it doesn't hurt Cakewalk to include it.  The plugins that disappear usually are the third part ones.
 

Oh, you mean like Drop Zone?  What everyone here is not considering is that all your old plugs from older SONAR versions (and other CW products) can be used in X3 (albeit the x32 install).  So even if CW did not include SD3, for example, it would still be available to you if you have X2.  So, it is not really that big or real deal that it is still there in X3.  Even if AD was the only drum synth with X3, the big deal is that this time it is the full version of a third party plug. 
 
On the inclusion of third party plugs, there is usually a draw back, except if you invest in the full version thereafter.  If the crippled plug has bugs or is not as useful, then it is ends up taking space on your drive.  You can be sure that that (third party) plug will not be included in the next version of SONAR.  So, it seems a bit pointless to be included (sans the option to upgrade on a good deal) in the first place.  I would much prefer if the Baker rolled their own home grown plugs like SD3 instead of throwing in these attention grabbing third party stuff.  Then maybe these (CW) plugs would get more attention in R&D.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker

SvenArne
+1
 
I use Session Drummer for electronic drums all the time!

Is an electronic kit included in the regular SD3 which comes free to X3 studio? 

The 808 and 909 samples in SD3 are actually quite good but not as heavily processed as the 808 and 909 sounds in a lot of programs..  I recall Brandon or Seth saying they were the original samples from the 808 and 909 during one of their videos, but I doubt that since i don't believe neither of those machines used samples.  Many hip-hop and EDM enthusiasts often encounter pre-processed sample kits or included kits in programs like FL studio that have sounds close to mix ready for pop music sounds.
 

Living Room Rocker
 
On the inclusion of third party plugs, there is usually a draw back, except if you invest in the full version thereafter.  If the crippled plug has bugs or is not as useful, then it is ends up taking space on your drive.  You can be sure that that (third party) plug will not be included in the next version of SONAR.  So, it seems a bit pointless to be included (sans the option to upgrade on a good deal) in the first place.  I would much prefer if the Baker rolled their own home grown plugs like SD3 instead of throwing in these attention grabbing third party stuff.  Then maybe these (CW) plugs would get more attention in R&D.

 
I'm mixed on this.  I think the Bakers (or the powers that be) have taken the combo approach.  There seems to be at least one in-house plugin in every release.  This one includes the Tape emulator.  Not as flashy as a drum program but useful and not as likely to be nitpicked apart  by endless third party comparisons.  I think it's easier for the bakers to put effort into console plugins alongside of developing a DAW than to try and outXLN XLN and other more specialized plugin developers. One of XLN's strengths is the meticulous sampling methods  that would be hard for a broader scoped company like Cakewalk to duplicate.  Maybe if they snatch up a specialized developer like Renee again they can create new useful instruments in-house.