"Daz has the advantage of having been able to build their entire program & content regime around ubiquitous V-Chick and thus can introduce modern industry standard innovation going forward"

Except they don't introduce industry standard features and precious little innovation. The features of DS are proprietary, expensive to implement, on the back-end not front edge of industry innovation, and are not even fully compatable with the other programs that they sell. Their subdivision is anything but industry standard. Their dynamic cloth is anything but industry standard. DS is proprietary by intention, not necessity. But, they have stuck so close to Poser that SM doesn't even have to put much effort into making their own content. And, they are unlikely to introduce any new content that will exclude Poser users (hence the plausible rumors that SM and DAZ are in communication about their plans for future development, and neither companies are denying it).

Any future version of DAZ studio will be fully compatable with all of their previous content. Who really thinks that the next version of DS will only work with V5 and no other content? Does anyone believe that users of new versions of DS will be unable to open or convert their former scenes?

"While SM plays the part of the poor cousin trying to stay compatible while clinging to vestigial, cobbled together legacy code from the 1990's."

Absolutely not so. The core code of Poser 8 has been completely rewritten using "modern" programming standards. Hence the ability of PoserPro 2010 to run in 64 bit mode. The interface consistant with previous versions is cosmetic not systemic. Compatability with previous features (Which DAZ will certainly maintain also) does not mean that the new versions of Poser are not possitioned to advance with technology, and implement features that users want. In fact Poser has implemented many features in their product line that DS has not yet added.

The "rivalry" between the two companies benefits both, and I welcome it. It is far more likely that the development that WE want to see in our prefered programs and content will occure if there is competion between DAZ and SM. If one program ever lags seriously behind the other, than the other will have little reason to invest in improvements.

SM sells a wide variety of popular software applications and content, and they sell thru multiple popular outlets. They do not buy software that does not have a future, and they have the capital to invest in the development of their product lines. SM actually has the resources to buy DAZ if they want it. They chose Poser.

The material node system is powerful, and does not need to be replaced, but improved. Poser would rival anything on the market if the program had nodes that could be programmed with its Python script, if the Python script was allowed to call external libraries and programs, if the features and capabilites of Poser were fully exposed to its Python script, and if there was the capability to link directly to other rendering engines from inside Poser. With these tools innovative programmers could add feature after feature to the program.

I don't use it myself, but how about a version of either program for Linux? That would open up some serious market growth.

DAZ Studio is a great application, and can be highly recommended to people looking for a program with its features. But, it is not enhanced in the slightest by underestimating or belittling Poser. If Poser did not exist, there would be another program on the market in its slot, because no application will satisfy everyone. Far better if DS and Poser concentrate on improving what they do well, and implementing what their customers want. Let people migrate to and from these platforms as they will, there are still over 6 billion people not using either program so I do not think the potential market is completely saturated.

lmk

Probably edited for spelling, grammer, punctuation, or typos.