They still have the carrara challenge, this one is wrapping up http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/36508/ But they aren't run by the same person.

As far as an ignore, DAZ forum has one too. I'm sure I was on many peoples ignore lists. But of all the forums I have been on there has only ever put one person on an ignore list. Fun part was they were still on the DAZ forum going at people every chance they got, long after I was banned for speaking the truth. But that is DAZ for you, covering up the truth is far more importent then protecting forumites from personal attacks.

Now everyone that knows me knows I'm walking gloom and doom. Eor is my hero. Yes I am Mr. Negativety. But I'm not negative just to be negative, DAZ has always given me ample reason to be negative. C8.5 is a good example. The more I do with it the more I find borked in the release version that worked in the beta. I'll set right here and say the beta for C8.5 was far better then the release version.