I started with Bryce 2 back in 1996 and used it until V6.1.
I spent several years not working on 3d between 2001 and 2006 as I was more interested in photography.
I switched after trying a demo and figuring out my tries to make ground vegetation in Bryce were totally irrelevant, given the fact that it was far easier to make with Vue Ecosystems.

I use Vue as I use Bryce: to design landscape and as a renderer. As many users, I use pre-made assets or make them myself when I cannot find them. I tend to make more large scale scenes as Vue leans towards it.

After all these years, I have found that there were some keys to making successful images, and that many of them are not linked to the program you use:

• Idea: the quality of the original idea is critical. When I have an idea, I do not start straight away. I wait a bit and if I keep thinking of it again, then it is probably good enough to make an image of it.
• Artistic guidance:  I have started to purchase books about fantasy illustrations and look forward to get art books about landscape paintings. I am still light years from my inspiration sources.
• Workflow: starting from a sketch and patiently working towards the final image generally gives better end results than just playing around in the program waiting for something to happen (at least for me). Howto books about illustration can help in that respect. (eg: John Howe Fantasy Art Workshop, but there are many others)
• Composition: I have learned the basics from photography and tend to think of it a lot more than I did before. This is critical in making a good image as in 3D you can theorically make the best composition possible as opposite to photography where you try to give your vision of an existing scene.

I think someone having an artistic background, a good eye and no problems with learning can make wonders with any program accessible enough. Years ago Bryce users like me were in awe before the works of Martin Murphy who started to produce images we would have judged impossible using several different programs with equal ease. I think he is a good example of what you mean.

Fantasy pictures, free 3d models, 3d tutorials and seamless textures on Virtual Lands.