Well I can tell you how I rig and pose. I model the figure into the pose. Grab verticies move them rotate them into position. Loop cut and paste. As long as I am nto animating I realy do nto need to rig a character. I Use Wings 3D I think ou can fidn that in your budget. Ther eis always soem thigns that we automate too much but I look at what is the focus of yrou image? Is it a model soemone else made or is itsoemthignof yrou own creation and the other things are just ther eto fill out and make i tmro eof a whole image. I knwo there are a number of differing opinions.

The wit of a misplaced ex-patriot.
I cheated on my metaphysics exam by looking into the soul of the person next to me.