Quote - ...but so far NONE of the renders I've seen using Poser 8's new lights look even remotely PHOTOREALISTIC to me.

Maybe true, but I think this turned out okay...
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1939667

Photorealistic? Heck no, but with only one light, IDL did a pretty good job here.

i7 6800 (6 core/12 thread), 24 GB RAM, 1 gtx 1080 ti (8GB Vram) + 1 Titan X (12GB Vram), PP11, Octane/Poser plugin, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Oh, and a wiener dog!