Poser and DS have long been a source for inexpensive, ready made, posable content that can be exported to other 3D studios.  It's primarily the animation mechanics, expandibility, and rendering engines that prevent them from standing toe to toe with the "big boys".  But then again, that is what makes them affordable.

 

A rendering engine that offers true GI, lighting that is not strictly point source (soft edge shadow), with easily defined spectral character is expensive.  But it is what makes for truly realistic renderings that allows for total suspension of visual disbelief.

 

But Poser and DS have their uses.  First, they're great for toon, tube, and art renders that don't make a pretense of realism, in the same way that painting and sketching create appealing images as representations.  (I'm not saying that realism can't be achieved in Poser and DS, just that it's very difficult and time consuming.)  They're very good for conceptual mockups, quick and dirty sketch art like storyboarding.  Poser started off as a base poser for digital painters, and is still used that way today.  Poser and DS have always had a place in commercial art.  They're not used in Hollywood movie FX, but then people wouldn't be able to afford them if they were.  But they do have a place, always have.

 

I still use Poser to make humorous greeting cards, create toon posters, and the like.  It's great for that, Firefly lighting is perfectly suited for it.  I also use it to test and export content that strikes my fancy.  I even use it now and then for a serious art render in certain styles.  However, I've just about given up on making content for it. I've even dropped my commercial rigging services for a Poser based movie outfit (but that's another story that doesn't have to do with the software).  It's a pain, very fussy about importing meshes, and a lot of work, more than most other studios for the same process.  But Poser still has a definite place in my toolbox and in my workflow.  But I don't launch it on a daily basis, like I do modo (my true love).  But it doesn't gather much dust either.

 

So yeah, Poser and DS have their place in the 3D world.  They always have.  For every pro who looks down their nose at them, there's another who uses them.  They aren't at the top of the heap in the industry, but they aren't designed to be there.  They continue to fill their niche well.

 

And Dawn has the potential to be a big part of that.