DS has to do something so much better that a Poser user would have to be awful stubborn not to switch. If that is the case, where is the downside?

I think the downside is the one you mentioned earlier, with your DVD comments. Until it's settled, people are reluctant to commit.

Even if Poser continues a long healthy life, DAZ is limited in what they can do with their figures by the limitations inherent in the Poser program and CL has no inherent need to improve those figures.

I think you're wrong on that. CL is improving their figures. That is why Jessi and James are rigged like Posette. With the new Poser rigging system, they won't need buttocks groups. That may be as soon as next year, if the Poser 7 rumors are correct. (Remember, E-frontier is a content provider in Japan. They sell figures, much as DAZ does here.)

The way I see it, improved rigging is the obvious next step, clearly the biggest improvement needed. Both DAZ and CL are working on new rigging systems...and they will likely end up not being compatible.