Quote - This sounds similar to the free version of Daz Studio but if Poser Debut can't compete on that same level as the free version of Daz Studio then I'm not sure anyone is going to be interested in buying something that does less than the free version of Daz Studio.

Just based on the Poser workshops that I teach, it seems as if Poser Debut has been reduced to the bare minimums that's actually required to render decent art.  Poser itself is powerful enough to create good renders (in my opinion) with using the basics. The majority of the art in my gallery rarely goes beyond the basics (meaning no material changes or advanced lighting). Many beginners and intermediates are confused by the intermediate and advance features of Poser so maybe Smith Micro is working on a Beginner's Version of Poser?

Either way, if it falls behind the free version of Daz Studio then I don't think it will do to well. Not unless it has some really good beginner automated features. 

The first point is that being a physical edition with a price tag means that Poser Debut can reach parts that free DAZ Studio cannot - the shops! Be they high street, or Amazon. That alone takes the software to a costomer base that might otherwise never see or hear of either Poser or Studio.

You are right that they have stripped it to the basics, less a couple of basic features like displacement. But it is enough for people to get results from. The idea of course, is to provide an upgrade path to Poser 8 for those who want to take it more seriously.

So, in short, this just isn't intended to be a competitor to DAZ Studio, it is intended to introduce new customers to the software that DAZ isn't reaching. Also, if they get themselves started with Poser's interface, there's a chance they'll want to stick with it even after discovering Studio. A lot of us, though not all, who started with one interface find the other less intuitive.