It's never coming back... But it could be a conspiracy; Henry could have cut a deal with the other DAW manufacturers to get us to buy replacement DAWs then he plans to reopen cakewalk as a double whammy e.g corporate win win scenario. :-)

Cakewalk is not selling the software from their website any longer. When you attempt to buy the software from their website, you receive the Gibson Cakewalk Announcement with no option to continue further.
 
Purchasing Software from a retailer or any other website other than Cakewalk.com is not Cakewalk's responsibility.

THambrecht
If you sale a product, you have to give support and warranty.
The only way is to give it away as freeware.
We don't know what Gibson does with the code - and we don't know what Gibson really owns.

Thumbs Up on the freeware idea.  It's sort of interesting.....the Idea.  But, What happens to the DAW market.  Why do we need Cubase of Pro Tools or all the rest, when you can get Sonar for free. But,I like the Idea.  Losing Cakewalk is like losing my best girlfriend and I'm in the mood for shoving the world around.

rabeach
It's never coming back... But it could be a conspiracy; Henry could have cut a deal with the other DAW manufacturers to get us to buy replacement DAWs then he plans to reopen cakewalk as a double whammy e.g corporate win win scenario. :-)

Or, strengthen guitar sales by putting more money in the hands of musicians by creating an environment where DAWs are cheaper. Cakewalk becoming freeware would do just that. Get Sonar and buy a Les Paul.

I would buy it anyway.. Now I have to wander and look for "alternate sources".

I know that this is probably verboten, and goes against the ethics and morals of most users here, but in reality, cracked versions of SONAR Platinum nave existed since there was a SONAR Platinum.  Even if SONAR never makes it to the public domain, it will always remain available underground as long as it's relevant.  I've NEVER been a proponent of alternative sourcing of active products, but my 'after-demise of Alchemy for PCs experience' suggests that these sources are very useful!  Had Alchemy and its expansions (as it existed before the Apple buyout) continued to be available to PC users, by now I would have accumulated all of the previously available expansions I now have by paying for them.  When not given the opportunity to buy a product, it seems only reasonable that if it is available through a dark channel, snarfing it transcends ethical or moral considerations.

I would happily pay to upgrade my X2 to the latest Platinum.  It absolutely sucks I was never afforded that opportunity.  I can't even take advantage of the crossgrade offers because they want proof of Platinum ownership.  Had I seen this coming I'd have upgraded long ago, but...