Rockwell Software is gonna let A.I. stay where it's at. They will support it, but as new processors come out, A.I probably won't talk to them. So we're being forced into the modern world of Windows Programming.
This was my experience. I got a new computer in 2000. (I convinced my boss I needed one for the Y2k thing). When I got the computer, I got RSlogix 5 and 500, a new ktx card to talk to the plc,s, And an autocad lite 2000 upgrade. I had been using A.I. and acad lite windows for a long time, and continued tio do so for about 8 or 9 months on the new computer, never using logix or acad2000. (I thought it would be less efficient to "learn" the new stuff)
So I get a project to replace some controls on a machine and (I decide it's time to bite the bullet and learn the new stuff--and I've never looked back. A.I. would be very cumbersome to me, now--not to mention the old cad package.
Take my advice--get logix and get it now. You won't be sorry.