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I was also looking for more insight on the elements of DSA that would make it worth learning. The different interface still keeps me away.

It did me at first too ( as a long time Poser user)...BUT read my post above!
All you have to do is get used to the Activity Tabs (the equivalent of a Poser room) but about a hundred times more versatile.

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Without having a solid reason to learn it, I'm more likely to take the time to learn Hexagon modeling than a program that will only do things similar to Poser. That's not a knock against DSA--it's more the limits of my available free time. I'd rather spend it learning something completely new that I cannot do right now (modeling) than something that is only mildly different than what I already know.

DSA offers many things that compliment and empower a Poser user actually...I use both.
Personally I much prefer the 3 Delight renderer (as mentioned above) and I use DSA more than Poser now.
But I like both and DSA is not that hard to learn...4 or 5 hard days will get you well on the way.
As far as Hexagon goes...you can model anything in it.
I have used it since it was a beta by Eovia ...well before Daz bought it...its an awesome app, and many many users that use it...still prefer it over Modo, and many other modeling apps, its very powerful, yet easy to use....definitely worth learning.
Daz have neglected it somewhat and they cop a lot of flak on the forums about this...they have closed a few down LOL!!
But they are starting to get the message, this is one of the best modelers out there and they need to realize that and build on it.
Cheers
Hmann

http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd184/hjmann/
http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd184/hjmann/Andoria-Night/