"I use Poser as a setup program for Vue and Max"

Ditto for Vue. I use SketchUp only to get SU models into other programs. Poser is a marvelous program, has been since it was originally designed as a 'setup' program for 2D artists. Not everyone chooses to use it for every function. You can, but it's nice that you can choose a more eclectic approach - using different applications and taking advantage of whatever you perceive to be the strengths of each one. Vue does superior outdoor scenes, Carrara has some neat effects, Kerkythea has great rendering options... If I ever had the hubris to do animation, I'd probably do it in DS. After having fun playing with the figure mixer in DS3 and creating an Aiko/Laura/Maddie hybrid, I'll probably spend some more time in DS anyway, but Poser will probably always remain home base for um, posing and just plain fun when I don't want to be bothered with the other stuff.

Use whatever works for you and makes you happy. Life is too short as it is to get bent over what some suits in Utah or California think is going to put more money in their pockets. Not to mention that we all spend way too much time in front of these glowing boxes anyway :-)

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