If I may reply here, I don't have X1 yet (the window is closing on going to go get it), but I wonder how many of us thought we'd used ALL the features of this program (or any DAW in general)?
I only ask this because I've been reading about how CD sales are dropping with the music not being good being the biggest issue, but how many of us get a full CD just to listen to a couple of songs? Yet, the flip-side of that is, how often do the songs you don't like after a few plays start to grow on you?
As some have said, Pro + Studio (even Essential for that matter) has features they'll never use. However, given my initial decision to get Studio, but go for Pro instead: I considered this factor:
I used the idea of getting the whole package ignoring what I didn't want vs. getting everything I want separately.
While Pro costs $430 (incl. tax), I did some calculating. Seeing that I like using midi (softsynths), I tallied the cost for Studio with DP and TP (the whole box). Those two instruments alone (five because TP has four modules - though it's ONE instrument), getting
both separately costs more than the main app itself, ($380) So, I may as well get Studio + the instruments in one package (Pro) even if I never use Pro-Channel or the like; however, I MIGHT like it then use it like there's no tomorrow.
Don't get me wrong, sometimes it is the lesser of two evils to get things separately; however, it's better to have something and NOT use it then to not have it, wanting it or worse needing it; yet when you can have it, but simply ignore it. With the full CD example, isn't it easier to skip the songs you don't wanna hear rather than getting a whole or a vast majority of a CD in singles? If you have to have everything (parts) because you're devoted is one thing, but why not get the whole package because you can be as picky as you wish)
Having said this, I'm not knocking this thread, because I'm sure they'll be features I will rarely use if ever; yet, it doesn't mean I won't dabble with them.