I would love to see something similar created by Roland for use with Sonar.  Roland make hardware, right?
 

 
Something fully, comprehensively and seamlessly, integrated with the Sonar mixer, full control of the Pro Channel modules, and maybe the addition of a single motorized fader (like on the VS-100).  Hell, if Cakewalk don't get off their asses soon and release a controller like this I might actually buy the Softube version!
 
After using an iPad for a few years now, I still feel that nothing beats grabbing an actual knob between your fingers.  Sliding a fingertip along glass is actually very disappointing.  I think they should stop wasting their time trying to make everything "touch" and just release a proper controller.
 
So my question - does anyone know what's in the works, hardware controller-wise?  Anything?
 

Cakewalk are already heavily invested on the VS700 series controller and interface

Given the feedback I've seen on the continuing support for the VS-700, I'll take that for what it's worth  :-)
 
And besides, the VS comes with all the crap I don't need, preamps, converters, built-in synth.  Cut out the crap to keep the cost down - just a stack of endless encoders made to integrate with the Pro Channel for mixing purposes.  The Softtube thing is vastly over-priced, but the way he worked it in the video, the workflow... that's what I'm after.
 
Hey, I see you're in Linton... I'm not far from you, in Geelong  :-)

I don't think the VS series paid for themselves and they certainly weren't a "hit", even tho they were very good.  Cake also put out a controller of sorts many years ago - it didn't take off either.  About the only successful controllers are universal ones so any DAW user can use it and not be short-changed by a small user base.  But the easiest controller to use is one designed for specific software - like the softube one.  One controller for each function, just like an analog desk (and yea, I know there are submerged controller functions, but most of the functions are one-to-one).
 
And as you state, physical knobs and sliders are kinetic in a way virtual controllers ain't.  The best solution, sort of a uncommercial physical controller, is a touchscreen combined w/ limited knobs and a moving fader.  Touch the eq band on the screen, and the knobs get latched.  Touch the on-screen fader or just a channel/bus, and the fader is assigned.  Touch the Osc of a softsynth, and voilia, the knobs get assigned to the revelent functions.  That is something I'd like to see Roland put out, w/ a template for SONAR.  And expandable for those that want more moving faders, damn the cost.
 
@

Ooo @ that sounds awesome. Fast track meets touch. I'd love it.

And therein lies the problem with hardware devices. Hardware lasts a long time and unless you can keep the hardware up to date with new software, they quickly become outdated. Companies will only update the software for a limited amount of time because it becomes too expensive to support.