Obi seems to be a pretty careful guy to me. I've seen him say that ST3 is coming...but lately he says its coming this year. Pretty sure he gets his cue from the big dogs at IK, and also pretty sure they understand what happens if they miss this kind of self imposed deadline by any wide margin. I have quite a bit of IK software, and it does what it claims to do on a stable basis.
I would be greatly surprised if ST3 wasn't released by 2/2014 at the very latest, and frankly...the bargain blowouts on ST2.5 warn me that release of ST3 will be sooner than that...call it a back to school sale. Need time for the blowout price to squeeze the last few $ available in ST2.5.
On upgrade paths and cost savings...Take a look at IKs current offerings and upgrade savings. I haven't, but trends ought to be apparant. I'd look at how consistent upgrade savings are across the product spectrum. Do percentages vary widely or are they spot on a set percentage for all IK products?
A phone phreak who works for Verizon told me he'd be very surprised if Googledroid wasn't working on and over the hump with Android audio issues, and furthermore, that if true, they would be lining up software vendors with programming hooks and betas, and that companies like IK likely have many lines of code already on well secured IK hard drives for a flurry of Android DAW software...along with death penalties, or worse, for any employees who spill da beanz before the seventh floor decides when to...leak...the news.
I've stayed outta the iK storms....its their company, what they sold me works, they haven't promised me anything they haven't delivered, and I sure don't know enoughto comment on, or have any skin in their business planning. That's said...Ima feel way butthurt if Ik doesn't throw us wrong side of the tracks Droids a bone or two after the lavish feast they've spread on the Apple worms.
That's right...I said worms. GET back!