Quote - Yet it is nothing about Poser or 3D per se, but about the badness of the way that so many people use Poser. It is not the fault of the medium.

Well the medium is difficult. I think that a lot of Poser artists are pleased just to get a convincing image (believable pose, clothes and textures) and an okay render (okay lighting and shadows). To get beyond that takes a huge amount of skill. First you need the same experienced eye that all other artists require, the eye that can see the difference between a picture that is working and one that isn't, the eye that can figure out what it needs to make it work. That's often regarded as a natural talent, a gift, something you either have or you don't.

Then, in addition, you need the specialized technical skills to twiddle a bunch of confusing dials to bring about whatever changes your discerning eye has called for. These skills can be taught, and I'm sure a good number of XSI/Max/Maya users have some formal training, but I reckon the vast majority of Poser users are self-taught and just don't know enough to get the software to make the images they are aiming at.

Given that Poser is, in a sense, like 3D clip-art, with everyone picking stuff from the same giant catalogue to use in their work, the odds are stacked against your average Poser user producing unique, exemplary work. Those who do succeed are to be commended. But as long as everyone has fun doing what they do, it's all good.