Carolly is actually dancing around something that's not a new concept to software, either, and while probably unlikely, isn't improbable nor suicide. DAZ has the single most commanding marketshare available for Poser content. That is a given, reliable base on which to expand. And expansion is the key element. D|S is the vehicle for that expansion. It will offer them not only an escape from the strict limitation of the Poser market (which is still rather small) and give them a greater opportunity to reach the additional content market that is still unproven but very possible. Most notably among this market is the Lightwave group, whose ties with DAZ are fairly well established. Furthermore, the Tell-Ware strategy is rather explicit, and DAZ really is committed to keeping the core program free via subsidizing through content revenue. What better way to ensure that content revenue stream than via time licensing -- which will occur. Lightwave and other programs have a user base that is not as heavily dependent on content as Poser is. And this form of "leasing" is an essential goldmine for any company. It would be unrealistic to assume that the prices for the content would remain the same through a lease model -- initial resistance to the scheme would likely result in a low fee that would generate revenue continusously over time. Now it is a fairly standard practice to time limit Beta and other development code -- this is in no way unusual. But, as pointed out strongly, this is still a Beta. Until such time as it actually hits 1.0, EVERYTHING is strictly speculation, as that Beta period could be indefinite, and until it's final, even the money grubbers won't have clue. Me, personally, I dislike the interface, I find OpenGL preview nice but absolutely no better than any other scheme, and I happen to find the thought That I'm going to have to invest in 250 dollars of hardware just to preview something cleanly sorta bugs me. But I'm cheap, and refuse to go with the latest and greatest unproven stuff -- holdover from sysadmin work, I guess, lol

thou and I, my friend, can, in the most flunkey world, make, each of us, one non-flunkey, one hero, if we like: that will be two heroes to begin with. (Carlyle)