I'm looking for the function that will shift the note-on times of MIDI on a track-by-track basis. I need to shift to be able to shift note on messages (or even the complete track) to compensate for instruments with slow attack times. This used to be easy to find in older versions of Sonar, but I can't find it in Platinum. Does it still exist?

To move individual notes one at a time you can either use the event inspector in the Control Bar or right click on the event and change the time in the prompt.

Or you right click on a clip and select the option to slide, vales can be positive or negative.

That's all fine and good, but it's not what I'm looking for. I want the midi notes to sit at quantized values (for example), and for the playback to be a few ticks early. This used to be available on a track basis, so it was set and forget. I use a LOT of midi, and I don't want to have to continually go and edit clips or notes.

I believe you are looking for the Time+ slider located in Instrument (MIDI tab) and MIDI track inspectors
The bottom control pointed to by Q

OK I understand and Scook is pointing you to the method.

Thanks a million, Scook! I was going crazy there for awhile. 
Now where did I leave my keys?