The Microsoft C++ runtime isn't really under SmithMicro's control... it's a requirement of the installer (Wise?) that they are using. I've seen some versions of Wise that will update the C++ Runtime automatically, but maybe this version just doesn't.

Daz3D has had some strange installers as well. I know that to install any of their unimesh models in Win7 x64 I've had to create a few empty directories with an empty dummy file in one just to make their installer not give a strange error and exit. Alas.