Ableton or CubaseSX?

[g]

SX.

You need that learning curve.

Agreed...

Ableton is very good for quickly putting stuff together, but the knowledge gained from getting to grips with Cubase (or Logic, or Sonar, or any other "traditional" sequencer) will be invaluable.

then you haven't gotten very deeply into Ableton (understandably so). it's as capable as as deep as any of the 'traditional' sequencers, it's just frankly not so confusing and (to my way of thinking) works in a far more logical manner. this is after years of using Logic and Cubase. i'll never go back.