Well, I think I'm happy in the sub $500 category.  I'd prefer to be in the sub $250 category, but I went and got the new Truespace again.  I really almost threw everything out last year and tried to switch to blender.  I lasted about 20 minutes before screaming like a monkey at a vending machine.  My big problem is that there's just no take-it-or-leave-it yet.  No one really talks about this, but all of these programs are serious commitments and you can't just get by with logic.  And trial and error?  Gawd, try that in zBrush.  I got the 3.0 upgrade in June for buying it at the old price in 2002.  I never could figure out what it wants from me, but the art in the galleries is sooo good.  I launched it about 2 weeks ago and had to ctrl-alt-del because I couldn't find undo or quit.  Cost is relevant when you think of it as an over-time thing.  How many plug-ins could I buy in 5 years time versus how many times you might upgrade a full version of another package?  I'm really anxious to see how this new cloth thingie turns out!