Thank you all for the inputs,

BTW, for modeling, I just got some info from other forums re:  ZBrush and Hexagon.   Judging from their respective galleries, it seems to me that ZBrush is used more in modeling/sculpting creatures or human forms, while Hexagon is used more for artifacts.  (I found Hexagon images in the Carrara gallery.)

Wings 3D is free but its gallery here doesn't impress.

I also heard that Silo is nice in creating conforming clothes for Poser figures, but I have no ideas re: its usages in other modeling capacity.   I will check them out visiting their respective forums.

Thanks again!

3DVim

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