Penguinbans: ROFL.

Whilst I'm pessimistic about Vue's possible fate, the 3D market still has some remarkably powerful tools available for the non-pro on a domestic budget.

You mentioned Carrara Pro: OK it's quirky but it can produce excellent reults. Daz3D alone supply powerful tools, for at times, daft prices: Hexagon is easy (relatively) to get into, Bryce, whilst a little stunted in its growth, produces nice stuff and DAZ Studio might not be Poser but the price is right.

Smith Micro with their eclectic product portfolio haven't destroyed Poser though it might have hit a development dead end.

SketchUp is free albeit with no export features but cheap (circa 120 GBP) third party rendering add ons are available with quality improving with each release.

A couple of months ago I too realised that, compared to 3D, digital photography is not such an expensive hobby and promptly subscribed to the UK mag PhotoPlus for Canon Users. The cost of an Infinite upgrade good for maybe 3 years of use would get me a good Canon lens to last for 10+.

Cheers,
Mark