RobP,
So let me sum up your post;
$1,000 for two DAW's, primarily use Sonar ($500) for it's plugins such as Rapture and Dimension but mostly used inside of Cubase ($500) because you prefer Cubase's GUI over Sonar.
You know Sonar is fully customisable. And I have never had any issues of accidentally deleting tracks in Sonar, in fact the track selection is very clearly visible.
GUI, Workflow? Well it's a matter of opinion
I've heard others say they much prefer Sonar, or they much prefer Ableton Live, or ProTools.HD, or Logic, or Samplitude, or Studio One, or Record.
I know people who have been using Sonar for several years and are surprised to learn something new. The same can be said for all other DAW programs.
Important Note:
For anyone thinking of getting Sonar and Cubase?
Cubase.5 does not support DXi, some of the plugins that come with Sonar are Dxi.
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In Sonar for example; I can easily run 48+ tracks that includes multiple instances of third-party VSTi (instruments) and be able to edit midi either viewed single midi instrument events or multiple instruments events in the PRV, the midi tools and additional features available are excellent! At mixdown add multiple VST (effects) plugins (example: DensityMkII, Ozone, T-RackS) all running without any issues at all. No need to freeze or bounce midi events to audio, I simply export it all at once -- mixdown
End Results; it gets the job done! And that's all that matters to me.
I have saved literally hundreds of dollars on third-party plugins, discounts from IKmultimedia, XLN and iZotope. *Thanks*

Great companies! Great sounds! I could not be happier.
Over the decades I have used many different software and hardware setups. Sonar, Cubase, Logic, ProTools, at the very 'core' they're all much the same more or less but basically the same. I've been recording since the 1970's of course I know enough to say that either of those apps will get the job done.
I have read many people having issues with their DAW? it could be due to a number of things, too many variables such as; registry issues, bad audio drivers, conflicts, hardware, user error, and whatever. But one thing I really hate are crackware users (piracy: anyone foolish enough to use cracked (illegal) software? I hope it renders their PC next to totally useless or at the very least full of bugs, piracy users won't get no technical help from me).
Logic (Mac Only) vs. Sonar vs. Pro-Tools.HD vs. Cubase. vs Live. vs FL. vs. Acid Pro. vs. Record. vs. Samplitude. vs Studio One. The main thing is whatever is best to whoever feels more suited and comfortable working with.
