I started with Bryce 3(whatever) and graduated up to Bryce 5.  Then one day I got Vue4 off a magazine offer and the first scene I put together without any tutorials blew anything that Bryce could do away.    The skys in Vue were way beyond what I could get out of Bryce.   I have seen lately some excellent Bryce renders so there is (are) more and better support out there than in the past.  Probably Bryce got a hand up when DAZ offered Bryce 5.5 for free.  I agree that Bryce suffered from lack of parental support and advancement for quite some time.   Poser has great potential but it takes a lot of work to get the atmosphere that Vue does naturally.