A good physical control surface is great.  But even the vs700 is a bit confusing for more obscure tasks.  It is really impossible to have a mechanical control surface that does everything - you still have to use a mouse and look at a screen.  But a physical rotary and fader are better than a virtual one.
 
I still would love to see cake come out w/ a vs 150 w/ a motorized fader, physical knobs and touch screen large enough to program effects/synths and move around a project (something touch can do well and at a low cost).
 
In the meanwhile, Argus has a win 8, 23 inch, multi-touch, adjustable sceen angle monitor for $400.  That is the future, esp. as prices drop.  You can control every aspect of SONAR and add a fader or fader pack/knobs and program those for tactile response.  Until someone figures out something better.
 
@

I've been looking at the kickstarter'd QuNeo recently.  Interesting, but I've not been tempted enough yet to part money for that type of controller.
 
For a touchscreen-based controller the iPad is the best bet. 
 
Currently I have the controller capabilities of the PCR-300 k/b and I also dabble with TouchDAW on my Nexus 7 and more recently the Geco MIDI controller application running on the Leap Motion controller.  That is surprisingly fun to use.
 
More than anything else though, I use my mouse 'cos it's an accurately-tracking high DPI gaming mouse and provides really good control.
 
 

Left to my natural state, I end up using the mouse. My controllers eventually ended up not being used. I have an Alphatrack and a Tranzport which I had incorporated in my workflow for awhile. It just ended up being easier and faster to use a mouse. I still use the Tranzport for remote operation of the PC when I am tracking guitar and vocals, but not for mixing or operation of the PC if I am in front of the monitor. Set up for hybrid mixing here as well and use a Crest 20 channel console for printing and final mix. Not helpful for automation which is done in the box but love having 20 channels of hardware EQ at the ready. I am also in the camp of not using another device for a controller, I prefer focusing on the mix rather than another screen.

I've got a Presonus Faderport that I like using for transport and automation purposes. But other than that, I'm pretty much a mouse guy.

<Reality Check>
Don't look now, Sonar's Control support is BROKEN!
We continue to use our beloved, pick one (MCU, VSxxx Tascam U or FW whatever).
Cake is scrambling to lead the way with "touch", that's the way of the future.
I hate it, but mark my words, that's where Sonar is going.
</Reality Check>
 
Tom

You're probably right. I hate it too. I don't want it. I guess I'll be using X1 Expanded and Windows 7 for the rest of my life. : }

Leadfoot
You're probably right. I hate it too. I don't want it. I guess I'll be using X1 Expanded and Windows 7 for the rest of my life. : }

I have a VS100 that I got recently. I love it of rhte ability to be able to reverse the now time, while the song still plays and when I let up the button it starts playing right where I lifted up the button. Doesn't sound like much but when working, this is something I like to do.
 
But I still reach for my keyboard. Not so much my mouse, but my keyboard always. And the way I have my screens set up, I cannot imagine trying to do all that I do with just a touch screen. Why reach when I can just keep my hands on the keyboard, or just reach right over a foot to the right, and use the VS100?
 
So I have thought about keeping X2 and Win7 for a long long time.

I'm jusing a Behringer BCF2000 just for basic mixing - faders and pan.  For that purpose I really like it, and I often find it quicker to grab a fader than switch to the right channel and mouse to its fader.  Particularly if I'm not doing any type of editing and only focusing on the mix.  At $164 (special at Sweetwater) it was certainly worth it for me, if nothing else as a  nice alternative.
 

If you want a great control surface with motorised faders for that sort of money look at the BCF2000. That works great in Mackie mode and while I now use a MCU + XT, prior to that I used a BCF and they are superb. There is IMHO nothing that can touch it in value for money (inc the MCU) - The MCU is better but so it should be at the price. A BCF is 90 % of an MCU at 10 % of the cost.
 
 

OK, Karl, that was scary timing...