I agree with you DarkChilde. "3D" contests should not tolerate ready-made contents. It's simply not fair. That's why all the modelling contests that I organized here (the last one: http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=239) didn't allow it. For me using ready-made models would mean that the 3D scene was not created by a single artist, is not original and was not made specifically for the contest.

However, understand that some contests are not focused on 3D modelling/texturing skills, but on the global "artistic" value of an image. If this image include 3rd party models/textures or not doesn't matter. It's not as easy as some might think to transform a few poser models and props into something aesthetically challenging. As you probably know, "money doesn't buy talent".

I must ask this question to all those people whose work is 100% their own. . ."Are we wasting our time and effort?"

Surely not! If you can make 3D scenes all by yourself, you're the winner, you have the freedom to make whatever you want!

Those who put 100% of their own work into their images, I hope, will add to this forum and hopefully we can get the rules changed for all contests.

Well, since 6 months or so I dediced to stop using models done by other people. My last scenes are 100% mine (self-made models and hand-painted textures). But I won't follow you on this track. There is room for all sorts of contests. Just as there is room for all sorts of artworks. If you don't like the rules of one contest, don't participate. It's as easy as this!

Like Carolly pointed out, there are many contests for 3D modellers elsewhere (try www.3dluvr.com), and I'm sure there will be a contest for you at Renderosity in the following months (check the modelling application forums).

:) Eric