Max- , you got some great points; I agree! For me it's a conspiracy (sorry Rayraz :-)  - THEY could have done sooo much with Bryce keeping the interface ideas but rewriting the engine  or creating a file converter for older files and so on.

The big problem (or a gigantic mistake ?) is that they didn't throw away the old trashy graphic engine; they tried to fix it with endless updates instead of creating a new (like the freeeeee Blender3D) and keeping the interface work flow with stylish improvements (without shining ball for ex.)

I even remember a guy who was privately working with CG people in order to save Bryce and he already made a new elegant Bryce interface...but then came DAZ.

Nowadays I just feel sick when I see how outdated Bryce is despite years of "work" by DAZ; they promised sooo much; it's hurts me to see what they are doing to this software; the only solution would be the thing you said: merging Carrara (engine) and Bryce (interface) asap; then I may forgive DAZ . :-)