'DHP, your Posette render may not have photo realism but it does have the charm of impressionism, and as such works very well for me'

I agree. While razor sharp realism is always impressive, it sometimes seems to be almost an end in itself. Whether it's nostalgia for childhood storybooks or an appreciation of some of the new animated films, I find that a softer more illustration like look is very effective and appealing - especially if you're telling a story. I remember when they started producing photo illustrated comics. The novelty wore off quickly and I realized that they weren't nearly as engaging as the illustrated ones. That's not to say that you can't tell a good story with virtual digital photos, it's just a different esthetic.
 

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken