I think it is a good start for both companies. There is nothing more to read into it than 2 companies extending thier target areas.

"Smith Micro finally realized that compared to Hexagon their own Shade is inferior, so why not start selling what people really can use."

Not even the same type of software. Shade has some modeling features that hex only dreams of, but you need to look in the menus to know them. Shade is also a very good renderer and it riggs and imports poser rigging and animations and has a very good toon renderer. Hex is just a modeler and that was it's power but does not get any real use development by it's owners. And you have already been corrected on ownership. A true apples to oranges here.

But if you want to watch some fun. Go over to Daz and read all the Poser/DS flame wars that have re cropped back up. Pop some corn and sit back with that ol beating stick. LOL.