It seems to me like DAZ can't win on the "change of direction" topic. Either they ignore their customers or they pay too much attention to the WRONG customers!

Quote - Much of the silence, by the way, comes from them in my experience.

Absolutely. Poor communication has been my biggest gripe with DAZ over the years, and has resulted in the biggest foulups I believe. And they have instigated "focus groups" IIRC, in response to some of their earlier foulups, either manned by the wrong people (yes men), or ignored, or... hold on to your hats... simply with different opinions to us :( Probably a combination of the three.

Personally I think there's a huge difference between "dissenters" and "disruptives". I suspect I have differed with DAZ AT LEAST as often as I agree with them - and I've made no bones about telling them about it, either directly or on forums.

They don't always change their minds and follow what I suggest (see:- .zip files) but they don't always ignore me either - because I'm one of their customers. If other customers are making the same point then it would seem DAZ listen. They've yet to ban me (it COULD happen!) and I like to think that one reason for this is that although I prefer to voice my own mind, I also prefer to do so in a way which is as free of abuse as possible. Sometimes I'm outright polite, even :D