As far as the similarities to Bryce go, I believe at one time Carrara was also a product of MetaCreations. And how long would that test scene take to render if you had the "Full Raytracing" turned on? :^)

This is not my "second childhood". I'm not finished with the first one yet.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

"I'd like to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather....not screaming in terror like the passengers on his bus." - Jack Handy