Thanks all for the good advice and input on this subject.  I'd pick a top-end app; but to be honest that would be like giving a monkey a mask and told to do brain surgery (I'm just not that smart).

If there were decent training availiable for Maya or another top-end program (that doesn't involve numberous DVD tutorials) I might just go for it.  But I honestly don't know jack s**t about modelling or the like; simple as that.

As for building my own; I have built all of my own PC's since before 2000; I'm just tired of getting all of the components and putting them together.  Call it old age or just laziness; I just wanted to buy/order a dencent PC and just have it delivered in a box.

You've given me much more to think about than I initially intended; but then, that's why I posted here!

Thanks much and have a great weekend,
Thersidesus