I just need something to delete geometry, really.  Something that (preferably) handles Poser's scale with no nonsense, and spits out OBJs that import into poser with no problems (scale, materials, etc.).

well, as far as 'cheap', there are a few that are free. Wings3d, Blender and anim8tor are examples of some of them.
If you want to try wings, go to the wings forum and click on the forum banner and it will take you to the wings download site.

I don't think there is a modeler that you won't need to set the import/export scale. Poser scale is very small to most other apps. But you only need to set the import/export once and your good to go. 

The three main FREE modeling apps, have already been pointed out.

Hexagon handles things fairly well, aside from the vertex-order issue introduced in the latest update.  But there are workarounds to fix that until DAZ can patch the problem.

I've also used MilkShape 3D to create and modify Poser meshes for years.

Anim8or is perfectly happy operating at Poser scale - that's how I use it all the time. It preserves vertex order and UV mapping. However it loses group and material information during the import/export process, so I can't recommend it absolutely. It may sound like an odd choice, but UVMapper Professional can delete geometry, and preserves all the important information. It's very easy to select by group or by material, or just by dragging a marquee in 3D or UV space. I often use it for quick and dirty mods to geometry, where no vertex movement is needed.

www.anim8or.com

Simple, free, and reliable.
Also I second UVMapperPro forthe job.

I use Carrara to work in Poser native scale.

mike

in the same vein: i remember back in the day, iirc, Traveler had some info about morph "squishing." you know, reducing the morph to the differences between the original and new form.  without that change, .obj morphs aren't mixable since they cancel each other out.  i've got a few posette morphs i'd love to use on the various recent versions of posy, but i can't combine them.  does anyone know of a utility or trick to do this?

@ cobaltdream: that wasn't really in the same vein at all, but nevertheless, I'll have a go. Morph squishing is the process of removing everything from an OBJ file except the vertex coordinates, which is all that Poser needs to know. This is done in an attempt to avoid copyright problems. There's still a tutorial on the subject at MorphWorld, I think. OBJ morphs are mixable, sure. Just apply them to the appropriate body part and off you go. If the morphs you have aren't working, there's probably some other reason for it; but may I respectfully suggest a new thread, since this is getting way off topic for this one?

** note: please don't respond- this post just explains my rationale for posting.**

well, for me it is precisely in the same vein, in that this is the only way i've seen so far to mix morphs made in external programs.  that is, i've been looking for a good external program for morphs, and the key component is getting them back into poser and working.  free and cheap modeling programs are very easy to find, but, imho, the question comes up again and again because what people really want to know is a simple workflow for making morphs.  one that doesn't involve several different applications just to correct for reversed normals, reordered vertices, incorrect scaling, movement, etc.  i figured that was why the poser scale part was added.  there are tons of modelers and morphing programs out there, but it's rarely clear which one actually has a simple path from obj import to using the morph in poser.

in my experience, if i add head morph x that changes the eyes and then head morph y that only changes the mouth, adding y that involves the whole head rather than the difference will put the eyes back as they were.  and so, to my mind, it directly affects the workflow of making a morph in a 3rd party modeling program, which is what i thought this thread was about, at least in part.  but perhaps i'm missing a vital step.  thanks for the kindly suggestion, but i think i'll pass and just keep looking.  perhaps someone else will encounter the same problem and i'll see more about it then.

I use Silo with regular Poser scale if I'm doing things like morphs. Did it yesterday actually :) You simply set the Near Clip Distance to 0.001m and you work with Poser scale no problem.
For modelling though I do tend to scale up (again, really simple just type in 100 to upscale, then 0.1 to downscale).

Attached Link: http://www.sandylodge.demon.co.uk/

Very easy to use, and with one of the free modelers (I like Wings) and the free version of UVMapper you should be all set.

Get OBJACTION SCALER at the link under Utilities.

 SWAMP

All these different answers but one thing most of us could agree on is, Try all the free ones and make sure you try the demo of all the pay for ones, before you decide or spend money on anything. It does not matter what works for us, it only matters what modeling app works best for you.

For an example, I can't stand anim8tor and blender, but like Wings3D. So I my payed versions are Hexagon, Silo, that are very simular to Wings. Also Shade 8.5 for it's curves, which for some strange reason, I can understand Shade. I also always scale up from Poser so I can see better and the actions are finer adjustments.

So chose the modeling app that works with your way of understanding. Modeling software is very personal.

Shade not only has the importing of pz3's through PoserFusion, it also has a check box in the import and export of OBJ files to scale for poser.

Yes, Shade seems to be the only modeler that I don't scale in. Also has a great toon rendering system.

anim8or
When working with existing poser figures, just export them group by group.
Rebuid the model in anim8or.
Do you work, morphing, etc.
Export again group by group, and import in Poser as morth targets. ==> Done

When building props, I use a poser figure as reference material to get the size correct.
Easy to hide, unhide, untill it all comes together.

Very user friendly and easy to learn.