I'm not paying 1 cent for another DAW. Possibly never. I have the best DAW and it will still run 10 years from now,,, I'll be 74..
Actually let me add that I will pay for a new DAW if that new DAW is the res-erected Sonar. I'm more optimistic than ever. Sonars code is priceless and we WILL see it return. 
 
So like many of you I kicked the tires on a bunch of DAW's, for me it was just something I do from time to time to re confirm my loyalty to Sonar. And reading all the latest posts is also a great insight into what is what. I've learned more about these other DAW's in the last 2 days than I have in the last decade. 
 
Bottom line- Every DAW I either demoed or looked at on web pages was like going back to Sonar 8.5 GUI and midi editing wise. 
So I see it as a huge waste of time and money to even think about a different DAW, Some are pretty cheap, like Mix Craft but what am I getting? I'm getting a DAW that is like Sonar 8.5.... I still have 8.5 so why would I spend $100 to buy what I have? 
 
I know some of you are all worked up and feel this is a good time to buy into an alternative while they are offering deals, But those deals will probably always be there in one way or another. And ask yourself this.. why would I want to stop using Sonar? You already have what you want. 
 
The bottom line is Sonar 23.10 is years ahead of all these alternatives as far as my brief foray showed me. I guess it comes down to what tools you were using.  But for me MIDI editing and the new PVR is just something I cannot be without. None of the DAW's I tried, including Cubase are as advanced as Sonar for using VST's and midi. Even Home Studio is more advanced than most these DAWs and it was a bargain @ $50. 
 
So I have 5 new Daw's installed on my computer some make noises, some expire in 14 days and some 30. I'll poke around a bit more later but right now I've got work to get done so I'm back to Sonar until I'm feeling the urge to explore again.  
 
Here's to a long road ahead using Sonar. 
 

I am staying but exploring! In fact I am on a break in the middle of recording on sonar

I'm not a professional.....just a hobbyist, so I'm in no rush to use something else.  I've been essentially using nothing but Cakewalk/Sonar since the late 80s.  I'm probably only using about 10% of the capabilities of this program as is.
 
As long as I'll be able to continue to install and use the program if I have to replace any hardware, or want to build a new machine...I'll use it.   (At least until it either gets broken by something, or just gets really out of date)
 
The thing is, I've actually gotten to a point recently, where I'm satisfied with both Sonar and the third party items I have.....for the last year, for the first time, I haven't felt the need or desire for any shiny new plugins....because I feel that what I have does everything I need....
 
Of course...if a really great deal on something comes along.....well.... ;-)

cakewalk has screwed all of us and if you think they care
pink rabbits do exist

I'll probably keep my Sonar for at least another 15 years. What will another DAW offer me that i don't already have? To tell the truth I'll probably retire with Sonar, and if I have to use another format in another studio I can just export all tracks to wav files.
 
Sonar is far too advance to abandon this platform while it's working perfectly just because the company closed down.
 
Would you sell a vintage vehicle when you can still buy parts just because the company went of business? I don't think so.
 
Sonar is still light years way ahead of the competition to switch, as long as you can load Windows 7 & Windows 10 it'll be another 30 years before this program can be made obsolete.

ibediggin
cakewalk has screwed all of us and if you think they care
pink rabbits do exist

Bitter much? 
 
I'll be on SONAR for a long time to come.
 
The DAW, lest we forget, is a just tool for capturing music. I didn't get up this morning thinking, "I'll go play with my DAW today!". I thought "I wonder if a shaker might fill out yesterday's perc track". I have never thought: "if only my DAW had some more bells 'n whistles...yeh, then I could finish that third verse."

I'm a gonna keep using it but I am going to get into something else... I may just end up getting every other DAW just to get the full options that I have with SPlat! lol

I will stay with Sonar Platinum as my main DAW until it no longer functions which will probably be for some time.
I have owned MixBus 4, Reaper, & Studio One 3 Professional for some time. 
 
Don't like Studio One. 
 
I use Reaper for multi-track drum timing editing.  Great functionality for that, but don't like it for anything else. 
 
MixBus is a good stem summing environment.
 
Sonar has the feel and workflow that I'm most comfortable with simply because I have used it the most, ever since the 1st Sonar offering in the early 2000s.
 
Taking advantage of the Black Friday pricing, I purchased Mixcraft 8 Pro Studio and Cubase 9.5 Pro.  Haven't had much time with Mixcraft and none with Cubase as I am waiting on an eLicenser from Sweetwater.  So I am not sure if I will be wowed by those.  Time will tell.
 
That said, I will use SPLAT until I can't.
 
By that time, another company, the employees, or some miracle may happen and the project known as Sonar resumes development.

I'm also worried about the forum going away and having no help! :(

I'm gonna.