Quote -
if we compare Bryce to its Closest market competitor pricewise
VUE6 easel ( not infinate just easel), and you take away poser V-chicks etc.
and skilled modelors using other programs and stick purely to what comes
"straight from the box "
Bryce still falls short in the area of realistic landscapes,skies
plants and water in my opinion.
The vue renders just look better and more real to me
and Bryce still renders WAYY to slow.

 
Vue is a great landscape app, no doubt about that. But if we´re discussing work "out of the box", let´s not forget the modeling capabilities. I´ve tried working with Vue as well, but modeling in it is basically a freakin nightmare procedure. You just don´t get anywhere close to Bryce´s precision boolean modeling or the ease of its terrain editor.
This to me means a lot more than realism, because it makes the program far more useful, versatile and more complete.
Bryce is as good as you make it.

Regarding slowness, you really should try Maxwell render. Now there is a slow renderer. :)

Rudolf Herczog
Digital Artist
www.rochr.com