Quote - Bryce still falls short in the area of realistic landscapes,skies
plants and water in my opinion.

 

Take a look at my gallery and then say that. I think Bryce is quite capable at all those things. Just because a sky is a photograph on a flat object, it's no different from a texture, which is no different from a material..... one isn't stuck with 'whats in the box' a lot of the extra things that help Bryce shine can be collected quite easily without cost. 
Bryce is good, because it is easy to use.