Things to consider:
More buttons is necessarily better(in fact, often the opposite is true).
PT 8LE is "caveman" software compared to anything current
( PT9 was a step up(added ADC). PT10 was a game changer, PT11 was monstrously better(because of being full 64 bit software) and the current 12.8 would make your head spin(assuming a computer capable of running it well) in comparison to LE8. Is PT now better than Sonar, Studio One, Logic, etc? I don't know the answer but truthfully don't care. At the end of the day, all the current DAW options can give great results(with a skilled op and decent recording techniques), so I say, use the one that works the way you like
I curse PT from time to time, but it handles my needs in ways that keep me onboard
