The way they had that introductory offer on Carrara configured, it was actually slightly cheaper to buy the "sidegrade from Poser" Carrara5 standard (with the Poser6 import thing) - and then upgrade to Pro. Which means you can't lose. Anytime you decide you want to get Pro you'll pay just a little less than you would have if you'd gone for it first.

That's what I did. I figured that the modelling (edge) tools I'd lose from the Pro version I would have in Hexagon anyway ($2!). I'm still not interested in animation so the radiosity texture baking feature wasn't needed.

I really ought to take it for a test drive. No hurry... ;-)