Funny thing is that I still have Vue6Infinite, took 3 online classes for it and I still prefer to open Bryce.  If its trees and skies had been better (with the version I was using at the time) then I wouldn't even have needed Vue. (of course you do have to love Vue's populate materials).

 

There's just something about the way a stock Bryce render looks that makes me go 'yes'.  It doesn't need to be hyper-realistic.  In fact, I will take a photograph if I want realistic.  Not a fan of the super realism look. 

 

I think that renders will be moving away from the super realistic and back to a more abstract look.  Bryce does surreal and abstracts better than most other programs, imo, I hope it gets a second life by users finding it for that purpose.

...or maybe Daz3D will let Bryce go and someone innovative will pick it up.  Wouldn't that be cool?