Sometimes when id want to do some editing of a track that had dubious chances for success, id right click on the track ( say track five was massive or a third party synth), click copy, then paste it on track 6.all the corresponding midi or audio data duplicates as well as the patch on the synth. Then if I happen to turn track 5 to garbage, I could toss it and use 6. But therein lies my problem. The copy paste of a synth or effect from the track to another is the source of the not saving nightmare, for me at least.
Now, ill copy the audio or midi on to a new track and then open up a another instance of the synth on the new track, re-do any tweaks i made to the synth by saving the patch or go the long way one knob turn at a time....still way better than having to lose all data if i quit maschine or wanted to work on a different project.
