I haven't been messing around with Vue, Bryce or Terragan (?) too much because I'm just looking to model silly animal characters and such. I don't have an eye for landscaping.

Thanks, I'll keep checking on Carrara.

And just found out that there's a free version of Blacksmith!

Hey, what's the deal with DAZ? It looks like it's more of a Poser like program for setting up and dressing already made models than it is a 'from scratch' modeler...