It depends on what your looking for really.

I think Poser does skin the best hands down!

If your looking for Metalics I'd definately try Bryce(Vue too)

If Size are your concern, I've gotten renders twice as large as I could get in Poser, from Vue!

Or if you want hair to look really nice, you can spend  $$$$ for 3D Studio Max, Lightwave, or Maya. Then your in good shape to spend $$$$, again, to Network Render(Though Carrara 5 may be a cheap way out of this, as it too now has networking available)

But, when all is said and done, you can't tell me a render engine isn't a render engine compared to a...Render Engine!  They all do a super-duper, and many, many times it all comes down to the artist.  Until we start squaring Rapid Prototypers and Render Engines, it'll all be the same to me.

I preferer the Learning curve of Poser.  It wo'nt break your budget, and gives the more expensive applications a huge run for thier money, in that it has more than you, a newbie, could need, as you both all continue to grow.  ANd for the more serious person, leaves room for you to purchase the applications in it's following like, Vue, and Carrara.