Anyway, although I did for a time use Poser a lot in commercial work, in my personal work I actually used it for its orginal purpose, as the base for work in conventional media. I could work out composition, color and foreshortening as well as sometimes more subtle stuff like expression and gaze. When my health was at its worst and my motor difficulties made drawing difficult I began to use it for final art works to keep my commercial work going.

This is the issue: Poser is a toy... in a good way.

It is not a professional tool. It is a play thing. Using it for commercial work was like using a Holga for photography. I think Joe is right in that Poser can be best appreciated and most enjoyed understanding it as a "machine" for making kitsch. Again, in a good way.

It was intended to help people with drawing deficits make drawings but developed to the point that people with poor drawing skills can use it to make complete and satisfying art. It is a modern and terribly sophisticated new folk art media... it goes far beyond paint-by-number and 'recipe' painting in permitting average people to enjoy making art. That is certainly nothing to be ashamed of... it is a real achievement.

I gotta run without re-reading this post so hopefully it is not too idiotic...