I'd say go for Vue, even Esprit ( you can upgarde later to Infinite if you have the cash), simply because it renders faster ( but don't expect high quality images to render in minutes though!), and the advanced lighting models (global ambiance, global illumination, and radiosity for interior scenes) will make your scenes so much more realistic. The function editor, even in Esprit will let you customize a lot your materials, even if it's not easy to master at the beginning. I find boolean operations in Vue simpler than in Bryce ( with the odd crash every once in a while, though.) With 5 Esprit, no plant editing, you'll need an extra module called Botanica for that, but you'll be able to change some textures anyway. Vue standard terrains are not as good as Bryce's, but you have procedural terrains, and once you understand how it works, the results can be fantastic. Box version comes with a manual and tutorials. E-on's website hosts flash tutorials to get you started real quick. Hope this helped.