Don't get too excited.
I think the best strategy is just to use it as it is, and let anything extra come as a pleasant surprise. I used to spend more time predicting things, and was always disappointed. There are many things I thought would be in PT by now (many more MIDI features, delay compensation, scoring, key commands, ability to flexibly manage tempo, a folder architecture, multiple independent tempo maps, screen sets,a more comprehensive mixer, etc.), and I was completely wrong. The PT growth path is sure, but slow and steady. There's a HUGE user base now, and I'm certain they never want to rock the boat too hard. It's a tool suited to the enormous middle of the market, i.e. what most mainstream people need. Once something is established as an industry standard, rapid change is not good. With PT, for every enthusiast out there aching for change and new features, there are probably five people punching the clock using PT in day-in, day-out, non-flashy industry jobs, putting together radio and TV broadcasts, training films, phone answering messages, etc. You most likely will never see those people in a forum like this, but they're out there in the world in large numbers. Those people don't want to show up some Monday morning to face an extensively revised, foreign looking version of PT with a huge, brand new manual. If you want to get fancy, and need something radically different, there are other options. Lee Blaske