Should I step up to X-Fi Prelude?

[mon]

the prelude as a card is very good i love it swapped amps and all that . but the big downside VERY big are the crap flaky drivers ddl and dts optical out you get the sound loops and sound drop out ? from time too time really not good is it when your have way through a game + if you go the analog route mic does not work.

i am waiting for the new asus hdmi version too completely wipe creative out off my system .