Quote - ...Doesn't matter how many polys you have if you don't know how to use them;).

 

/agree

But, on the comparison between physically modeling something, like with clay, versus 3D, I'd have to say there's some similarity, but it's how you perceive the model your're working on and how the surface will deform as you use certain tools. I've done a little bit of clay modeling and you're absolutely correct - It requires much more than just pushing clay around. But, 3D art is similar in that regard - You need to know what you're doing.

I haven't used Zbrush, but I've used some other software that is similar to how it works. (Can't remember the really old one I used to use, long ago.) I think there's some unique characeristics of using Zbrush that you won't come up against in a raw 3D Modeler. ZBrush seems to take care of some of the technical stuff for you. That's good. But, it also means that someone who plops down the cash for ZBrush isn't going to be learning how to "do 3D modeling", most of the time. They'll push verts around and subdivide like crazy, but won't necessarily know why. Just my two-coppers on that. Now that I have a version of Poser I can use normals with, I may look into ZBrush. Then again, I may just stick with my modeler and use Xnormal... That's free. :D