As one of the other replies to your comment touched on, I am of the belief that it is very difficult to optimise a complex interface for all skill levels (while maintaining the same level of productivity for users at the high end).
You seem to be taking the term 'amateur' as dismissive or even insulting. I absolutely do not mean any offence by it, simply that it represents a shifting of focus of the application to a different group of users with a different set of needs. However, I see this group as already being served by something such as Garageband (perhaps with just a few additions of functionality).
I lament a truly great tool for high end users becoming watered down and less efficient for its established base, who know what they're doing and just need the interface to get out of the way as much as possible.
Regardless, I was attempting to express my genuine sadness and disappointment in one of my favourite tools becoming a bit less useful to users such as myself, I certainly didn't intend it to come across as an 'ego massage'.
I would encourage you to spend a bit of time with the new user manual for LPX. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what they've done: there's really nothing missing, concealed, or watered down; even the environment is still there. There are just some new ways to access that power.
Arguing about this stuff is all fun, but ultimately we're all musicians (among other things). Snarkiness doesn't help anyone, so I apologize if I caused any offense to you personally. I do stand by what I said about your comment though.
You seem to be taking the term 'amateur' as dismissive or even insulting. I absolutely do not mean any offence by it, simply that it represents a shifting of focus of the application to a different group of users with a different set of needs. However, I see this group as already being served by something such as Garageband (perhaps with just a few additions of functionality).
I lament a truly great tool for high end users becoming watered down and less efficient for its established base, who know what they're doing and just need the interface to get out of the way as much as possible.
Regardless, I was attempting to express my genuine sadness and disappointment in one of my favourite tools becoming a bit less useful to users such as myself, I certainly didn't intend it to come across as an 'ego massage'.