Cubase 2.8 is not the best DAW ever made. It cannot record a guitar. It cannot host a synth plugin. It cannot time-stretch an audio loop. But it is the perfect instrument for a specific task: getting MIDI from your brain to your hardware with absolute precision and zero fuss.
Unlike the Key Edit, the Drum Editor used diamond-shaped notes on a grid, each row assigned to a different drum sound (C2=Kick, D2=Snare, etc.). It was visual, fast, and allowed for "flam" and "roll" tools that automated complex rhythmic builds. Cubase 2.8
Unlike early monochrome Atari versions, 2.8 utilized the color capabilities of Windows for better track differentiation. The "MIDI-Only" Workhorse Cubase 2