Thanks for the heads up, momodot.  It sounds like Artrage has made some nice strides.  It's inexpensive enough to add to my hobbyist toolbox.  I'll buy it.  I like to support the smaller software publishers when possible.  But here's what the reviewer at arstechnica had to say about it vs Corel Paint:

"First, let's get it out of the way: ArtRage can't compare to Corel Painter. The latter is just in a different league. It has far more robust controls, much better tablet support, and brush tips and paint types that ArtRage will likely never match. If you're looking for a professional paint tool, Painter 12 is the only option."