there are lots of EP's out there. which is the problem... I've been using the ones in reason for YEARS.. and well props are good at sampling stuff for their instruments.

to dismiss their instruments totally is funny, padshop pro / retrologue .. yer I hate em.. the less people that use em the better (for me) 

I wouldn't say they are consistent and do things I like , but I can say the same for NI now, who I don't find innovative now and at one point bought their products without having to think about it too much.

I also got the email, I think their upgrade price from cubase 6.5 to 7 is a bit stink esp. in these times.  

as for sonar / cubase thing.. I use both. I like aspects of both, and I doubt there are few that just use one DAW software anymore.