Quote - "Is it not the case that the top end 3D software packages all, also have equally or more complex shader systems than Poser in fact?
"

Maxon Cinema4D does not have a node based material system
(Thankfully IMHO!!!)

Neither does Lightwave or MODO
or Maxwell or Vray.

Now.... I challenge anyone here to go visit the official Galleries of the programs& engines I just mentioned
and compare the renders  there to what you see in the galleries here.

It takes more than some complicated wire noded shaders to make quality CG renders IMHO
as a weak render engine&lighting system (like posers) will defeat the best shader setups every time.

Cheers

Are these high-end examples working more like it would work if I was using, by way of a vaguely comparative example, Reality Studio with Daz... or LuxRender with Poser?

Cheers ;-)