Quote - > Quote - I'd probably say "yes and?" (and have done actually)

I really don't need anyone else to validate what I do - if they like it, fine.  If they don't, also fine.  I make renders for me, not anyone else (so far anyway)

If I ever get a paying gig, provided the customer likes the results then it doesn't matter if it's done in Maya, 3DS MAX or paint

That's a fine attitude, but it isn't actually apropros the OP's situation. The OP wanted to post an image on a gallery. The person controlling that gallery said it didn't meet the conditions for that gallery.

So in this case, if you are asking a gallery owner to show your work in his/her gallery, then you most certainly do require that the owner of the gallery validates your work. To say otherwise is just unrealistic.

In all fairness to her, because it makes me feel all benevolent and generous to say so, it's her gallery and she can decide what goes into it...but the emotional invalidation of her little knee-jerk fit about Poser was more personally insulting and daunting than not getting to use her gallery.  So the technical validation can be tied to personal validation IF someone lets it be, which I did for about a day. Now I'd had far more engagement and interest from just reading this thread than I would have from any number of passing comments somewhere else, and been reminded what's really fun about this craft.

On the warez issue--it startles me sometimes when people are just as bold as brass about that.  I've had more than one person offer me 3DSMax before, too, in a sort of "oh, you like Poser? Let's move you to a real program and see what you can do" gesture.  This is usually in response to my asking if anyone can just convert a .max to an .obj or .3ds format.  Because giving me four thousand dollars' worth of software is easier than just processing a file for me. o.O  Okaaay.