Ha,
I've just re-read this old thread, having been in the same boat as many on here, but not really wanting to contribute as many others were doing it far more eloquently.
The reason I'm writing now is that I was looking at the Holiday discount page. I'm a GS3 user, and have been for ages now, and was one of those users who fell off the VIP upgrade path since I didn't have the ready cash available within the 12 month upgrade period. I now have 4K studio upgrade budget ready to rock and roll, and just thought I'd share my thought process with the community, and VSL.
I nearly did it. I nearly stretched the 5K and bought the VE symphonic cube. I own the VE special edition, and also the VE saxes. I love them, and they're great, and I'd happily recommend them to anyone. What stopped me? I love the product, it's amazing, and the interface is ridiculously easy to use. VSL without a doubt make the best products on the market.
Answer? Trust.
I didn't realise it at the time, but I felt as fed up as all those guys above me. I realise I now think of Vienna now as 'not entirely to be trusted'. I was really begrudging spending the money - I shelled out what was a massive amount for me when I was a student, but I felt like the VIP plan was 'insurance'. I spent the cash on the special edition, and will probably buy some additional instruments bit by bit, but I'll do so cautiously, and without any sense that the investment is guaranteed for any significant period of time.
I just thought I should share that, as all the dust has settled on this - I want to be clear that I'm not asking for anything, or asking for any specific response. It's just that a couple of colleagues were also asking me about purchasing VSL, and my honest advice was to 'be careful'.
Happy new year all. All the best for your composing projects in 2010 and the next decade!