Not the tool is important.What you do with it is.
You are right and they are right.
As someone here already said (MissNancy) you canot pretend to be an artist as long as your Poser renders are some crappy V3 big boobs renders or alike.and no , the 3DS/Maya users that just wrap other's textures on "their" models aren't artists either.
But are very good Poser/3D Studio Max/Maya/and others artists out there that make outstanding works.Those are the persons that suceeded to master the tools , no matter wich they are.And I bow in front of artists like bagginsbill here...
In conclusion , as long as you do only low level works with others models (even purchased) you have no right to call yourself an artist.You have to get out something that is your own and that is preponderent in the final artwork.
If you will look to my gallery , you will see the same crappy renders just like the other 95% Poser renders around here.And because of that , I don't have the pretention to call myself an artist.
But I have artworks at wich I am currently working that are comprised mostly of my work and very few to none of others (models and stuff).Also , I am working at my own line of organic models and when I will release it , I will make artworks comprised only of my own models (both organic and anorganic).Only then I can call myself an artist.And I will , proudly!
But until then more time will pass...
As for the starter of this thread , I think the work he/she posted on the first page is pretty good and he can call himself an artist by doing that type of artworks.If that is one of the artworks criticised as being made in Poser , then yes , I adhere to the opinon that it's unfair treatment.Anything else below that level...well , are just Poser crappy so called "artworks".
Just my opinion.

Best regards!