Yes, I'm using gamma correction, and render at high quality settings. I'm not expecting photographs out of draft.

"what you want is a skin shader that works with other elements.  the general problem is that most character makers spend some time getting a good skin shader, while most prop makers don't bother to use anything but a texture and maybe a bump and displacement map."

I disagree. "A good skin shader" is one that looks good under standard lighting and rendering and then goes on to look exceptional under whatever advances the maker has seen fit to incorporate. If it looks like crap when placed with other things (that all look fine together) there is a problem. At least, this is my view as the customer. 

Go ahead and push the envelope, but make sure the backward compatability is there for those of us who have neither the interest nor the technical background to make all the exotic settings. Trekkiegrrrl mentioned that she uses shaders. Fine. Her stuff looks good! She's obviously doing it right. This is what I'm talking about.

This is all a moot point now, however, as I've gotten my money back on this product, and I'm going to move on.

DR